CITING their combined 80-year public service record, Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday declared himself a presidential aspirant with Senate President Vicente Sotto III as his running mate, launching their determined bid for the top two posts at stake in the May 2022 national elections.
“Between me and Senate President Sotto are more than 80 years of honest, dedicated, and competent public service,” Lacson said in his speech marking the occasion.
He affirmed that their tandem possesses “the proven competence, integrity and courage to lead the country so we can rise from the rut we are in.”
Lacson acknowledged their team faces a tough challenge but added they are determined to “restore the people’s trust in government and the leaders of the country.”
“I could not stress it enough—the right leaders must exemplify as leaders by example, not by words but by action,” he said, ” reminding that no leader can succeed if he cannot practice what he preaches.
He added: “We need a leader who will fight for what is right and will fight what is wrong.”
Hence, Lacson stressed “the first of our priorities is a stronger response to the pandemic. We have to fill the gaps and correct the wrongdoing.”
For his part, Sotto cited the crying need to restore people’s trust in political leaders and in government. “We can’t shrug off what is going on in the government, the economy,” Sotto added, mostly in Filipino.
Sotto exhorted supporters, “Kailangan nating tumugon, kailangan nating umaksyon [We need to respond to the challenge, we must act].”
Lacson for his part stressed that “we have to prepare for sustainable recovery from this health crisis. I have no doubt that with a united citizenry, we will soon see the day that Covid-19 will no longer be a scare.”
Lacson asserted what is needed is strict discipline in spending public funds.
He insists there should only be one yardstick in compliance that should apply to all.
“There will no longer be swindlers and exploiters, whether close friends or strangers,” the senator stressed, adding there should be “only one standard for everyone to follow and enforce.
He added: “There are no sacred cows among those who will profit from the government.”
Moreover, Lacson suggested that “government units must be given bigger roles and responsibilities and more autonomy in nation-building, but with greater accountability.”
He envisions the National Government “will be their Big Brother watching over their shoulders, not only to help and guide them towards development but also to make accountable those who will have shortcomings or excesses.”
The senator suggested, “a little more patience. It is not long before we recover.”
“As we speak, we are in the process of drawing up a roadmap or a master plan that will serve as our platform of government that we intend to present to our people,” he added.
We are nearing the crossroads of our nation’s modern history — and we cannot afford to choose the wrong direction in charting the course of our nation in the next six years.
Having said all that, with all your help and cooperation, this is where Tito Sotto and I intend to steer our country,” he added.