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
MANILA, Philippines— Senator Panfilo Lacson is considering dropping the catchphrase, “We need a leader,” which was started by his former ally, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
“We have a leader,” might be his new slogan, according to Lacson.
Since joining the Partido Reporma as its chairman, Lacson has been using the phrase: “We need a leader.”
But the senator recently left the party after learning that its president, Alvarez, and some of his allies have shifted support to his fellow presidential aspirant, Vice President Leni Robredo.
READ: Ex-Lacson ally Alvarez confirms: I’m now backing Robredo
“Yung ‘We need a leader’ that’s really for me ha. Noong sinimuan ‘yun talagang ‘We need a leader,’ referring to me,” Lacson said in an interview at the Senate on Monday.
“But since it was Speaker Alvarez who went around as early as two years ago, he started moving around, with an understanding or at least as far as both of us are concerned, with understanding na para sa akin ‘yun (that it was for me).”
“Now kung hindi na para sa akin iyon, since siya naman ang unang nag-concoct ng phrase na ‘We need a leader’ then probably I might reconsider changing or tweaking it. We’re going to adopt probably something like ‘We have a leader’. Mas maganda ‘di ba?” Lacson continued.
(Now, if that’s no longer for me since he concocted that phrase ‘We need a leader’ then probably I might reconsider changing or tweaking it. We’re going to adopt probably something like ‘We have a leader.’ It’s better, right?)
Aside from changing his slogan, Lacson said they would also try to overcome perceptions that voting for him would just be a waste if he would lose the presidency anyway.
Various pre-election surveys have shown him lagging behind other presidential racers.
READ: Lacson still unbothered by surveys: Election is on May 9
“Napakarami ang nagsasabing gusto namin si Senator Lacson, gusto namin si Senator Ping. Siya ‘yung pinaka-qualified, siya ‘yung pinaka-competent pero baka masayang ang boto namin baka hindi siya manalo,” he said.
(Many are saying, we want Senator Lacson. He’s the most qualified, he’s the most competent but our votes might be wasted if he does not win))
“ And now we are trying to overcome that notion na masasayang talaga ang boto mo kapag hindi mo binoto si Senator Lacson kasi kung gusto mo siya, ilabas mo ang nasa saloobin mo sa pamamagitan ng balota.”
(And now we are trying to overcome that notion that your votes would really be wasted if you don’t vote for Senator Lacson because if you like him, then you’ll show it on the ballot)
Lacson admitted that he is now relying more on the voters, and not on political leaders, who he suspects are unhappy with his strong opposition to the so-called pork barrel.
READ: Pork for 60 House members unlawfully cut, Lacson fumes