Lacson on Cavite miting de avance: I want to value my kababayans’ support despite local leaders turning back on me

For presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson, holding his last grand rally in his home province of Cavite is his way of valuing his kababayans’ support despite their local leaders turning their backs on him.

Lacson aired his sentiment before he and his running-mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, hold their miting de avance in Carmona Cavite on Friday afternoon.

“Probably my reason (why we held it in Cavite) is subliminal - like capping our “out of town” town hall meetings in Visayas and Mindanao (save for the Nasugbu event). Why so? I want to prove that I am worth  much much more than the zero voters’ preference in those areas,” Lacson said in a text message shared to reporters.

“In the same vein, going directly to my kababayans in my home province is the best that I can do to tell them that I value their support despite their provincial political leaders - some of whom are my longtime friends, even relatives  turning their backs on me - forgetting that I am one of their own, not to mention somebody they can be proud of in terms of competence and qualifications. As I said yesterday, in politics, kinship, friendship, or any kind of relationship do not matter. That is the only explanation I will  understand,” he added.

Lacson was raised in Imus, Cavite. The Remullas, who are at the helm of the provincial government of Cavite, are backing the candidacies of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and the vice presidential bet Sara Duterte.

Before wrapping up their three-month campaign, Lacson believes all his efforts were worth it.

“It is all worth it - both the high point and the low point of this campaign. Too many lessons learned. Unfortunately, I cannot apply those lessons anymore on me since this is going to be my last,” he said.

Lacson has repeatedly said that Eleksyon 2022 might be the last election that he will participate in.

Lacson has served in the Philippine military, Philippine National Police, the Executive department and the Senate for about 50 years.

As a last message to the voters, Lacson urged the electorate to stop thinking about their own welfare and take into consideration the future of the upcoming generations.

“When we go to the polling precincts, let us stop thinking of ourselves. Rather, let us think of the next generation of Filipinos who will go ‘good or bust’ with those strokes of our pens while shading the ballots,” he ended.

The Lacson and Sotto tandem will spend their last day of campaign with a caravan in places in Luzon which are not usually visited by politicians. — RSJ, GMA News