Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday renewed his appeal for voters in the upcoming May 2022 elections to vote wisely and to favor those who are worth their vote.
As far as he is concerned, Lacson said he still believes the Filipino “is worth fighting for,” echoing the words of the former President Benigno Aquino III.
“The rigors and influence of money politics in this campaign and the opportunism and treachery that go with it, I keep asking this question: Is the Filipino still worth fighting for? This time, I always get the same answer. Yes, the Filipino is worth fighting for,” Lacson said in his closing statement during the Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debate on Sunday night.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief also reiterated his love for the Philippines and that he is prepared to fight and defend it against foreign invasion and against powerful forces that would take advantage of the country’s poor.
“Mahal ko ang aking bayan. Handa kong ipagtanggol laban sa mga dayuhang mananakop at sa mga may kapangyarihan na nagsasamantala sa mga kapus-palad nating mga kababayan (I love my country. And I am prepared to defend it against foreign invaders and powerful forces that take advantage of our poorest citizens),” he pointed out.
While he is used to hearing people say it is a waste to vote for those who are qualified to run for a government post, Lacson appealed it is time to get rid of such assumptions.
“Palagi naming naririnig, sayang daw ang boto sa mas kwalipikado dahil baka hindi lang manalo (We always hear that, voting for qualified candidates would be a waste because they might not win),” Lacson said.
“Ang totoo ang sayang na boto ay para sa hindi karapat-dapat manalo at sa mga magnanakaw na dapat walang karapatang maluklok sa pwesto (But the truth is, a vote is wasted if its given to somebody who is not worthy to win and if it is given to a thief who has no right to be elected to any position),” he stressed.
“Maawa na po tayo sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino (Please, have mercy on our Filipino people),” he appealed.