Lacson: ‘Kahit zero ako sa survey, tutuloy pa rin ako’

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson arrives at the Tuguegarao City People’s Gym for a consultative meeting with sectoral groups on Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan — Nothing could seem to stop Senator Panfilo Lacson from the presidential race, not even a zero percent score in surveys.

Lacson expressed his firm resolve to push his presidential campaign up to the end during an ambush interview here, as he and running mate, vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, woo voters of Northern Luzon.

“Maski zero ako sa survey, tutuloy pa rin ako kasi ‘di ako naniniwalang zero ako sa survey,” he said.

(Even if I get zero percent in surveys, I will continue because I don’t believe I have zero support in the surveys.)

Lacson was reacting to his low voter preference mark in the latest pre-election polling of Pulse Asia, where he got only 2 percent – less than the 4 percent he garnered previously.

Lacson questioned the result of the survey, which was conducted from February 18-23 on 2,400 adult respondents.

“I find it difficult to understand and believe—na base sa sarili kong naramdaman sa ground—parang ‘di ko kayang tanggapin na pagkatapos pa ng mga presidential forums and interviews, lalo pa akong lalagapak,” he said.

(I find it difficult to understand and believe—based on what I personally see on the ground—I don’t think I can accept that after the presidential forums and interviews, support for my bid will go down.)

“Malalaman na lang sa May 9, diyan magkakaintindihan. Ibig sabihin 1.2 million lang boto kasi 60 million ang voters?” he added.

(We will only know on May 9. Does it mean I will only have 1.2 million votes since there are 60 million voters.)

Lacson said he and Sotto will “work harder” because surveys “are not the elections.”

“The surveys are not elections and huling narinig ko elections May 9 pa, hindi naman ngayon. That doesn’t mean ‘di kami magwo-work harder,” the presidential bet said.

(The surveys are not elections and the last time I heard, the election is on May 9, not now. That doesn’t mean we will not work harder.)

The Lacson-Sotto tandem is heading to Quirino on Wednesday as they cap off their tour of so-called Solid North provinces this week.

“I think in so many sorties we’ve had, dialogue ang aming tema, maliwanag naman na meron kaming naka-ready na plataporma at siguro naman maski papano meron kaming ma-convert maski sabihin pa nilang Solid North,” Lacson said.

(I think in so many sorties we’ve had, our theme is to conduct dialogues, it was clear that we were ready with our platforms and perhaps we were able to convert some even if there is a so-called Solid North.)

According to Lacson, he has secured many votes from the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, which the duo visited on Monday, when he ran for the Senate.

“Historically, ‘yung lahat na takbo ko ‘di ako agrabyado sa Cagayan, Isabela, ‘di ako agrabyado sa boto rito. Laging malaki ang boto na nakukuha ko. But this is a different campaign kasi may pandemic at lahat,” he said.

(Historically, the times I ran, I was not disadvantaged in Cagayan, Isabela. I was always able to secure many votes. But this is a different campaign because of the pandemic, among others.)

“Sa tingin ko naman, sa pakikipagugnayan namin, sa response nakukuha naman nila ang gusto naming gawin at yung kaya naming gawin,” he added.

(I think, in our consultations, from the response we are getting, they are informed of what we want to do and what we can do.)

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KGA