‘Qualified, kaya lang baka ‘di manalo:’ Lacson wants ‘hesitant’ voters to pick him

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson, incumbent senator and former national police chief. Photo from Lacson’s office

SORSOGON CITY, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he wants to convince hesitant voters who see him as “qualified” for the position to vote for him.

“Unfortunately, most of the comments that I’ve been receiving are ‘siya sana yung qualified kaya lang…’ Laging merong ‘kaya lang.’ So we’re trying to address the issue of ‘kaya’ lang or ‘pero’,” Lacson said in a press conference here.

(Unfortunately, most of the comments that I’ve been receiving are ‘he’s the most qualified, but…’ There’s always a ‘but.’ So we’re trying to address the issue of ‘howevers’ and ‘buts.’)

The senator said the hesitancy of some voters to vote for him comes from the idea that they would just be wasting their votes. Lacson described this mindset as “wrong.”

“‘Kaya lang baka ‘di manalo, sayang yung boto’ so we’re trying to educate. Ang narrative is ‘sayang lang ang boto, baka hindi manalo.’ I think that’s a wrong attitude from the voters, kung titignan mo yung qualification, yung competence, dun na lang sana mag-stick. E paano nga mananalo kung merong ‘kaya lang?’” he added.

(‘But he may not win, it would be a waste of the vote.’ So we’re trying to educate. The narrative is ‘what a waste of my vote, he may not win.’ I think that’s a wrong attitude from the voters, if you will look at the qualifications and the competence, the voters should stick with these.)

Lacson said this amid the congratulatory messages he said he had been receiving over his performances in forums, interviews and with the recent CNN Philippines’ presidential debate.

“Ang dami kong natatanggap e, congratulatory messages, commendations, even tacit parang admission na that in the past forums, interviews and even the presidential debate that happened last week, ang sinasabi, alam naman nila kung sino alam naman nila kung sino yung qualified,” Lacson said.

(I have been receiving a lot of messages, congratulatory messages, commendations, even tacit admissions that in the past forums, interviews and even the presidential debate that happened last week, they know who is qualified.)

“Kaya lang merong ‘kaya lang.’ I hope ma-resolve namin yung issue ng ‘kaya lang’ (However, there’s always a ‘but’ I hope we can resolve that issue),” he added.

Lacson has been lagging behind his presidential rivals in the pre-election surveys.

The senator, however, maintains he is not bothered by his survey rankings.

This is Lacson’s second attempt at a presidency. He first ran for the position in 2004 but lost to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lacson has been in government service for five decades, with his most notable position being the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001. He was first elected as a senator in 2001.

/MUF