Lacson sees ‘irony’ in Sara Duterte’s motorcade ban, hopes she reconsiders order

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

MANILA, Philippines — Finding “irony” in vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s ordinance banning motorcades in her city, presidential contender Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed hope that she will reconsider the order “in the spirit of fair play.”

“Ang irony, sila yung mahilig sa motorcade, in the spirit of fair play, dapat ‘wag siyang mag-ban sa Davao City…sa ibang lugar nakakapag-motorcade sila,” Lacson said in a press conference in Pasig City on Wednesday.

(The irony is that they’re the ones who have a liking for holding motorcades, in the spirit of fair play, she should not ban motorcades in Davao City…in other areas, they can hold motorcades.)

“That’s my opinion, para maging consistent lang, I hope si Mayor Sara will reconsider yung kanilang ordinance or executive order…na iba-ban yung motorcades within Davao City,” he added.

(That’s my opinion so that it’s consistent, I hope Mayor Sara will reconsider the ordinance or executive order banning motorcades within Davao City.)

This, when asked about Duterte-Carpio’s executive order prohibiting all kinds of political caravans and motorcades in Davao City, citing rising fuel prices, among other reasons.

While Lacson hopes the Davao City mayor will reconsider her order, he said he and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will not be affected by the ban since they tend to “shy away” from motorcades.

“Sa campaign, kami naman hindi affected kasi hangga’t maaari, we shy away from motorcades, mas gusto namin yung dialogue,” Lacson said.

(In our campaign, we are not affected because as much as possible, we shy away from motorcades, we prefer holding dialogues.)

For his part, Sotto even joked they can just walk to their campaign engagements.

“Wala naman kaming planong mag-motorcade e, lalo na sa Davao. Nanggaling na kami sa Davao del Norte…Kung kami’y magkakampanya sa Davao City at bawal ang motorcade, e di OK lang. Maglalakad kami,” the Senate president said.

(We have no plan to hold motorcades, especially in Davao City. We already visited Davao del Norte before. If we will campaign in Davao City and motorcades are not allowed, it’s OK. We can walk.)

Meanwhile, another presidential candidate, labor leader Leody de Guzman, earlier said he agrees with the directive, saying caravans and motorcades do not contribute to election discourse, among other reasons.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, another presidential hopeful, meanwhile brushed aside the ban.

/MUF