Lacson’s lament: Pols took me for a ride

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — If there is one big lesson learned by presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson in this elections, it was about his mistake of locking arms with politicians who, he soon realized, only took him for a ride.

But Lacson was quick to clarify that while it was a bad move to deal with politicians, he harbored no bitterness toward his former political allies.

“I should not have joined a political party [as] I would have been better off running as independent looking back. I miscalculated the politicians, since I don’t even consider myself as one of them, which is probably why I would say because I was taken for a ride,” he said.

Lacson made the statement as he campaigned in Bay town in Laguna, following a grueling 90-day campaign that saw him recruited into Partido Reporma and was made its party chair in July last year, but only to abandon it eight months later in April.

Lacson resigned from Partido Reporma last month after its leaders led by Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez switched their support to Vice President Leni Robredo.

Despite the struggles, Lacson said he was wrapping up his second attempt at the presidency in an “upbeat” mood, believing he had led a campaign that ran on “substance [and] on quality rather than quantity.”

“It is a wonderful feeling to have supporters voluntarily coming to us, especially reaching those places not normally visited by candidates,” he said.

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