Lacson dares fellow Senate bets: Be statesmen, not politicians

Is there a difference between being a statesman and being a politician?

Senatorial aspirant Panfilo “Ping” Lacson seemed to think so as he urged on Tuesday those seeking elective posts to become statesmen and not politicians.

Quoting American author James Freeman Clarke, Lacson said that politicians in the Philippines are always looking forward for the next election and thus, abandoning their mandate to serve their constituents.

“We’re very fond of patronage. There’s a difference between a statesman and a politician: a statesman thinks of the next generation; a politician thinks of himself and the next election. So mas marami sa Pilipinas ang politicians kay sa statesmen,” he told the press during the Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery.

Lacson, an independent candidate, asked his fellow politicians to lay off from politicking once they occupy the seats which they will hopefully snag come May.

“After the campaign, p’wede bang break muna sa politics and maging statesmen na muna?” he asked.

He also described the state of the Philippine democracy as one where favors are being dangled to local officials and where patronage politics continue to exist.

Meanwhile, he seemed to hint that administration bets Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo both fit the bill of being a statesman.

Lacson, a guest candidate for the administration party, said that he would vote for Roxas because he has been able to help him while he was accused in the Dacer-Corbito case.

On the other hand, Roxas said Robredo has the “potential to become a great leader.”