MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson stressed on Saturday that public service is not a privilege but a calling.
Lacson, in his speech during a political rally in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, said that most solutions to the country’s problems can be achieved through “common sense” but government leaders are not implementing it.
“Kasi ‘pag naupo na tayo, ang feeling natin entitled na tayo—pribilehiyo. Hindi po. Ang paglilingkod sa bayan is a calling. Ang paglilingkod sa bayan, tingnan natin dapat serbisyo. Ang pananaw natin dapat the people may not be our masters but definitely, we are their servants,” he said.
(It’s because when we sit in government, we feel we are entitled and it is a privilege. It is not. Public service is a calling. We should look at service. Our mindset should be that the people may not be our masters but definitely, we are their servants.)
Lacson stressed that issues of the government should be fixed so that each Filipino may enjoy a decent life.
There are two types of thieves, according to Lacson: the ordinary thieves and thieves from the government. The irony, he said, is that the public is the one choosing and electing the latter.
“Ang ninanakaw niya (thief from government), ‘yung ating mga karapatan para sa maayos na pamumuhay–livelihood. Ang ninanakaw niya ang ating karapatan sa maayos na edukasyon, ‘yung ating karapatan sa maayos na agrikultura, ‘yung ating karapatan sa maayos na kalusugan,” said Lacson.
(What they are stealing from us is our right for a decent life and livelihood. They steal our right for proper education, agriculture, and health.)
“At higit sa lahat, ang ninanakaw ng magnanakaw sa gobyerno ‘yung kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” he added.
(Most of all, the thief in the government steals the future of our youth.)
Lacson, who said he has never accepted a bribe, reiterated that voters should elect a public servant over a politician.
“Dalawa ang klase ng ating pinagpipilian. ‘Yung public servant o statesman at ‘yung politician (We have two choices. First is a public servant or statements and the second is a politician). ‘Yung politician thinks of himself and the next election while a statesman or a public servant thinks of the nation and the next generation,” he said.
READ: Wake up, pick right leaders for the next generation – Lacson