Senator Panfilo Lacson talks to the media during a press conference in Cauayan, Isabela on Monday, Mar. 14, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau
CAUAYAN, Isabela — “Condescending.”
This was how presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson described on Monday a suggestion from Liberal Party stalwart Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for contenders seeking the country’s highest post to unite behind one candidate against the administration’s bet.
This, amid pre-election survey results showing former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leading his rivals. It can be noted, however, that President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.
“Condescending. Condescending masyado. Bakit ganoon ang salita? Kami, naghain kami ng COC (certificate of candidacy), tumatakbo kami para mag-serve sa bayan hindi para mangunterya ng kung sinong tao,” Lacson told reporters here when asked regarding Drilon’s suggestion.
“Sila, ang objective nila, pinupuntirya nila, personality. Di ba dapat tatakbo ka dahil may maio-offer ka sa ating kababayan, sa ating bayan. Hindi dapat mangunterya ng personality, ng isang tao,” he added.
In an ANC interview earlier in the day, Drilon said other presidential candidates should start thinking about unifying and having only one candidate to fight the administration if indeed Vice Presidential Leni Robredo’s voter preference numbers are rising.
This was before Pulse Asia released on Monday its most recent survey conducted in February 2022 with 2,400 respondents, which showed Marcos with a 60-percent voter preference while Robredo got 15 percent, one percent lower than the voter preference she secured in a survey held in January this year.
“Mali yung kanilang approach. Hanggang ngayon ganyan pa rin ba yung kanilang mindset? Walang mangyayari sa Pilipinas kasi papaano tayo uusad kung ang laging tinitignan mo ay yung nakaraan,” Lacson went on, still referring to Drilon’s suggestion.
“Subukan mong maglakad na ikaw ay laging nakalingon, matatapilok ka. They cannot move on, ‘yan ang problema,” he added.
Based on Pulse Asia’s latest survey, Lacson’s voter preference decreased to two percent.
The senator, however, has repeatedly said he is not bothered by pre-election survey results.
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