FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson, incumbent senator and former national police chief. Photo from Lacson’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Citing what he had witnessed on the ground, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson said he could not believe he only got a four-percent voter preference in the recent Pulse Asia pre-election survey.
“Lalabas ko na sentimyento ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala na four percent lang ako. Kasi iba ‘yung ramdam ko sa ground eh. Hindi ako makapaniwala na two percent lang ako sa NCR (National Capital Region),” Lacson said during Thursday’s “Meet the Press” forum.
“Sentimyento ko ‘yon, whether tama ako o mali ako. Pero may pakiramdam din naman tayo pag nasa labas tayo eh,” he added.
In the latest Pulse Asia pre-election survey conducted among 2,400 respondents from Jan. 19 to 24, Lacson garnered a four-percent voter preference, falling behind four of his presidential rivals.
In particular, Lacson secured only two percent of the respondents from the NCR.
But the senator believes pre-election polls “do not represent the sovereign will of the people.”
RELATED STORY: Lacson: ‘We will never give up for our country’s sake’
“We’re 80 days away from election day, so many things can happen,” he said. “Maraming changes na pwedeng mangyari between now and 80 days onward hano to election day mismo on May 9.” he claimed.
“At tsaka compared dun sa registered number of voters napakalayo—of course, these are scientific surveys hano, may methodology and everything—but then I will maintain ito naman ang totoo talaga eh ‘yung sovereign will will be expressed on election day,” he further said.
Two suitcases’ of cash
During the same forum, Lacson and his vice presidential running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, disclosed having been offered “two suitcases” full of cash as a campaign contribution.
“Nakita namin dalawang malaking bag,” Lacson said.
“Dalawang maleta,” Sotto added.
However, Lacson said they did not accept it after finding out that the person who offered them the contribution is involved in a bill pending approval in the Senate.
“Pag may nagpapadala sa amin at related sa aming trabaho, conflict of interest, pinababalik namin. Nito lang kampanya, may gustong mag-contribute, tapos…meron palang legislation na kasama,” Lacson said.
“Meron palang legislation involved na boboto kaming dalawa, hindi namin pwedeng tanggapin. Maski hirap kami sa pondo, nandun pa rin ‘yung prinsipyo,” he added.
Lacson said they “never regretted” not accepting the money, saying they learned that it was instead supposedly given to another presidential candidate.
“Alam mo kung saan napunta? Dun sa isang nabalitaan namin. Napunta sa isang presidential candidate,” he added.
The two senators did not elaborate on the identity of the person who offered them the cash nor the candidate who supposedly got it.
In their campaign, Lacson and Sotto are vowing to “fix” the government and to “crack down on thieves” among public officials. — With reports from Jericho Zafra, INQUIRER.net trainee