Lacson casts his vote in Imus, Cavite

Senator Panfilo Lacson became the first presidential candidate to cast his vote in Eleksyon 2022 on Monday morning.

Lacson voted at the Bayan Luma 1 Elementary School in Imus, Cavite.

The senator was at the polling center before 7 a.m., according to GMA News reporter Ian Cruz.

Presidential candidate na si Senador Ping Lacson, narito na sa Bayan Luma 1 Elementary School para bumoto ngayong #Eleksyon2022 @gmanews pic.twitter.com/jwtLblfT8M

— Ian Cruz (@_iancruz) May 8, 2022

He was able to finish voting past 7 a.m.

Pagboto ni Senator @iampinglacson sa Bayan Luma I Elementary School. #Eleksyon2022 | via @_iancruz pic.twitter.com/WZJpt0pdch

— GMA News (@gmanews) May 8, 2022

Voting hours are from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

In an ambush interview, Lacson said he is not keen to join the government should he lose the presidency.

"Sa ngayon, honestly, I'm not open to it. Pero ‘yan ‘yung isang sabihin nating mahirap magsalita nang patapos. Pero ‘yung last run? ‘Yon patapos na talaga ‘yon--salitang patapos ‘yon," Lacson said.

"Fifty years na e and that’s it for me as far as government service. But, as I said, depende kung ano ‘yung mga conditions. Kasi kung mag-se-serve ka under a president na hindi mo kabisado tapos mayroong puwedeng ipagawa sa iyo na hindi rin tayo magkakasundo and it happened to me," he added.

He cited his experience as the chief of police during the administration of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"When I was appointed Chief PNP, mayroon kaming mga basic differences--mga basic, mga fundamental na mga differences na nangyari kay President Erap. So ‘yon, kaya nagka ganoon din ‘yon ano, naging short-lived ‘yung pagiging presidente niya as well as ‘yung pagiging Chief PNP ko. There are baseline principles that I adhere to, mga non-negotiable sa akin. So, ganoon din 'yung aking public service, may mga threshold ako e na sinusunod. Ang tawag ko nga doon baseline principles na hindi pwedeng i-compromise," he said.

"So, ‘yon nga tinatanong mo ‘yung possibility na baka after one year ma-offer-an ng Cabinet position. Depende sa mga conditions," he added.

Asked about the conditions that he will consider, Lacson said the "baseline principles" that he upholds.

" As long as I will not sacrifice ‘yung nakagawian ko na in the whole 50 years that I've been in government. Kung ma-co-compromise ‘yon kapalit ‘yung pagiging Cabinet secretary, never mind. I will not... Kaya nga depende ‘yon," he said.

Right now, Lacson said he is "more relieved than anything else" after the 90-day campaign.

"Ang feeling na relief ko is more on thank God walang injury, walang illness that befell us. Not only us but the other candidates as well. Imagine, kung mayroong tragedy na nangyari, we’d be parang mourning instead of parang jolly or parang masaya ‘yung atmosphere natin. And I'm speaking on behalf of all the candidates na sana the feeling is mutual na we get out of this exercise safe from injury, safe from illness and may we always stay that way. And this is sincere," he said.

For him, he will end his run with a "clear conscience," reiterating that they have raised the level of discourse in Philippine politics.

"There’s no substitute to a clear conscience. We ran this campaign as honestly [as we could]. Inangat namin ‘yung level ng discourse e, and for that, we’re thankful that we were able to maintain what we have started. Hindi kami nag-deviate regardless of the consequences. Well, sabi ko nga sa inyo, 'di ba, may mga heartaches din pero walang ill feelings dahil sabi ko after today lahat burado na. Para bang start from zero, start from the parang starting line on what is ahead," he said. —KG/RSJ, GMA News