Senator Ping Lacson gets warm welcome in Mindanao.
MANILA, Philippines — Huge crowds and electrifying receptions highlighted the affirmations of support that independent presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson got in Mindanao on Thursday.
The warm welcome Lacson got in Maguindanao province and Cagayan de Oro City again shattered the projection of survey firm Pulse Asia’s projection that he would get zero votes in Mindanao.
In Maguindanao, Lacson – accompanied by senatorial candidates Minguita Padilla and Emmanuel Piñol – was welcomed at the Kamasi Multipurpose Hall in Ampatuan town, with residents lauding him for being the first presidential candidate to visit them.
When Lacson asked the audience if they know of any other presidential, vice presidential or senatorial bet who visited them, they answered: “Wala, kayo lang (No one, just you)!”
During the town hall meeting, Lacson brought his and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s message of hope and promise of good governance to residents of Maguindanao.
He reiterated his advocacies of ending poverty in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other parts of the country, by fixing the government’s ills.
“It’s about time na matikman ng ating karaniwang mamamayan… saan mang region, saan mang lalawigan, maramdanan ang biyayang galing sa national government (It’s about time ordinary Filipinos, whether they are from BARMM or anywhere else in the Philippines, to feel the benefits from the national government),” he said.
Responding to another resident’s request for an assurance that his administration will not tolerate discrimination against LGBTQ members in Maguindanao, Lacson said: “You can have that assurance.”
“Ang ating battlecry, napakasimple: Aayusin natin ang gobyerno para maging maayos ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino (Our battlecry is very simple: We will fix the government’s ills to improve Filipinos’ lives),” he emphasized.
In Cagayan de Oro City later in the day, Lacson, Sotto, Padilla and Piñol received a festive welcome from aneven bigger crowd.
The receptions prompted Lacson to remark that he does not feel the supposed zero voter preference as projected by Pulse Asia – but he added this survey projection could be a blessing in disguise as his supporters – particularly the Lacson-Sotto Support Group (LSSG) – will be motivated to work harder for his victory.
“Medyo nagagalit at nacha-challenge sila (They felt angry and challenged); they are prompted to do more and work harder,” he said.
“This election will expose the inaccuracies of the survey. We will see kung zero si Sen. Lacson sa Visayas and Mindanao. I know it is impossible (We will see if Lacson will indeed get zero vote in Visayas and Mindanao. I know it is impossible),” added Sotto.