Why Lito Lapid broke his ‘less talk, less mistake’ vow at Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Lito Lapid  broke his “less talk, less mistake” vow when he took the podium to explain his vote at the end of the impeachment trial of now ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona Tuesday.

In an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM Thursday, Lapid said, “my principle since I was governor up to now that I am a senator is: less talk, less mistake.”

Senator Lito Lapid. INQUIRER file photo

He said he was aware that people would always be watching him closely whenever he would stand up to speak, waiting for him to make a mistake.

When he spoke and explained his guilty vote, the senator from Pampanga admitted he was very nervous and perspiring profusely.

Lapid said that his son, former Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid, prepared a speech for him, but he opted not to read it knowing that he would look funny trotting out legalese and academic jargon before the tribunal.

When told that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile rated his speech as the best, he said he was very thankful.

He said that when he and the other senators were bragging about which schools they graduated, he would proudly say he was “also from UP… University of Porac, [Pampanga].”