Lapid’s son Mark plans to run for senator in 2016

WHEN action star-turned-politician Lito Lapid steps down after 12 years as senator in 2016, his son Mark will make a run for a seat in the same chamber.

Senator Lapid will try to return to a local elective post, confirming on Tuesday reported plans to run for mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga.

Mark Lapid, the current head of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, would run for the Senate as an independent candidate, if necessary, but would be open to running as part of a coalition, the senator said.

“He’s qualified. He’s the one who has studied,” he told reporters at the Senate.

Senator Lapid, a member of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, said his party has not made its 2016 plans.

Lakas President, Sen. Bong Revilla, who would have been the party’s standard bearer, is currently detained for plunder and battling charges that he had pocketed his pork barrel funds.

Senator Lapid pledged support for fellow Sen. Grace Poe for whatever position she would aim for in 2016.

Lapid has said time and again he owes a lot to her father and fellow actor, the late action star Ferdinando Poe, Jr.

“Of course, that’s Fernando Poe. We have a debt of gratitude to him. Whatever she runs for, we will support her,” he said.

Close to the end of his second consecutive term in the Senate, Lapid admitted that the jitters he has always felt in the legislative chamber never really left.

“It’s okay, it’s fun. I’m always nervous,” he said, when asked how he felt about his nearly 12 years as a legislator.

Asked why he was anxious, he replied: “I did not get enough of an education. I might not be able to answer questions.”

He said his focus has been to keep on working and working on bills, and support legislation that he thought was good.

The senator also said he has learned a lot in the legislature, although he joked that he’s not a good fit for the chamber.

Asked if he was sad about the approaching end to his term, he said: “I don’t fit in here… I’m joking.”

“I got lucky. I won by the grace of God and with the help of the people,” he added.

Lapid has not been an active as most of his colleagues in the chamber. He seldom participates in committee hearings and plenary deliberations. But he has been filing numerous bills and resolutions. AC