Partido Reporma presidential aspirant Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto” will always take the high road in their bid to seek votes during the 2022 campaign.

In a press statement, Lacson and Sotto said they will not be swayed into pursuing their political bids by “capitalizing on ridiculous lies, hate speech and exploiting public fears” as what other candidates have resorted to even before the campaign period could start.

The two veteran legislators recognize the tough challenges posed by their opponents based on recent surveys, dirty tricks, mudslinging, digital black propaganda and other tactics commonly associated in toxic politics, their camp will fight similar activities.

Lacson is heeding one of the many advices he gave to the Sangguniang Kabataan officers that he and Sotto met in Baguio City last December 17—to “not be disheartened by the thought that others do not recognize your relevance in society” regardless of the frustrations that politics can bring.

The Lacson-Sotto camp stressed that when others choose to display their own strength by their numbers, their tandem will rely on their quiet confidence that “principled politics can still work in the Philippines despite an ultra-saturated media landscape, which normally thrives on political messages that are designed to upset.” “Nakagawian na namin ni Senate President to do it parang on our own na sarili naming effort, ‘di ba, na i-present namin . Kasi kaya naman namin talagang ipagmalaki ‘yung service record namin—public service record—at saka ‘yung platform namin naka-ready naman kami.(Senate President and I have always tried to reach our goals through our own efforts, where we will only present our own capabilities, because we know we have a good public service track record that we can both be proud of as well as our platforms. We have always been ready.),” Lacson said at a press conference in Cebu City recently.

Both admitted having thought of retiring from politics but decided to forego of this plan to “try and help re-establish a better government for the people”.

They said this should be one “that would not blame them for their own problems but will find ways to provide creative solutions to achieve maximum social benefits insteadBefore becoming multiple-term senators, who tirelessly worked on bills and legislations that sought to eliminate systemic corruption in government and make life better for the majority of Filipinos”.

The longtime public servants aim to work on their Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program, which would institute equitable distribution of public funds among local government units nationwide to spur a more inclusive social and economic progress for all.

With the Philippines facing tough challenges at present such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, mass unemployment, economic recession, climate change, foreign incursions in the West Philippine Sea, among others, Lacson repeatedly appealed to the electorate to take the elections seriously.

Granted that elections in the Philippines are traditionally mired in controversies, where some politicians would deliberately attack each other and resort to making empty promises just to win, the Lacson-Sotto campaign trail refuses to follow such trends in the interest of political maturity and to raise the level of public discourse.