Lacson hits political buffoonery

MANILA, Philippines — With only nine days remaining in the campaign period that ends on May 7, presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson bemoaned what he thought to be the tendency of Filipino voters to elect incompetents so long as they present the usual political song-and-dance that they already know will come to nothing.

Lacson said he was sticking with his team’s strategy to discuss real issues besetting the country, while giving the audience a chance to ask questions.

“We engage the people in a dialogue, in fruitful conversations, not just entertain them. If the people do not want that, and will instead choose those who give them entertainment, then so be it, but woe to the Philippines,” he said.

“We have not been able to rise from this miserable, dark state,” he said in Malabon City on Thursday.

The campaign period should be used to apprise the voters of the prevailing issues besetting the country, and how prospective leaders will solve them, Lacson said.

“It’s about time and we’re doing our share to enlighten our people by way of the campaign strategy that we are employing wherein, in so many ways, we believe we are able to give a positive contribution,” he said.

“It should not be dominated by singing, dancing or other gimmicks politicians do and make fools out of themselves onstage,” he said.

Revenge culture

He again warned voters that politicians may be willing to make buffoons of themselves on stage during the campaign season, but the politician will make buffoons of the entire country if he is elected to office.

He lamented the “culture of revenge” where voters supposedly take advantage of the election season to make fools out of political candidates during the campaign period.

But politicians who are willing to oblige voters, will exact revenge over six or three years of their elective term, Lacson said.

“Would you want that to continue? Of course not. That’s why we are doing our best to educate our people,” he said.

Lacson said the country used to be the second-best performing economy in Asia in the 1960s, but plunged into an “abyss” and became a laggard in the region because of “bad leadership.”

Lacson said he was not changing his strategy, even if this did not seem to be making an impression on voters.

“We will not depart or we will not deviate from what we are doing because, come what may, we are able to contribute or educate our voters; because after all, this is about the life of our children, our grandchildren, of the next generation,” he said.

“If we are not appreciated for doing that, then so be it. Let us accept our fate,” Lacson said.

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