Deciding on who will serve as the next sets of local and national leaders requires a great deal of soul-searching for most Filipinos before they go to the polling stations to cast their precious votes, senatorial aspirant and former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol said.
Piñol issued this statement in front of throngs of registered voters who attended the campaign sortie of presidential candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Rizal on Friday, April 22.
‘’Let us contemplate. Think about these questions carefully. What kind of Philippines do we want to bequeath our children? Is it a country on a straight path or a country with rampant corruption? Is it a country with people living in prosperity or a nation with citizens in abject poverty?" he asked.
With the rising costs of food, fuel, and other basic commodities, Piñol pointed out that the electorate cannot afford to make the mistake of putting the wrong people in government to the detriment of powerless citizens.
“This cannot go on. Hindi pwedeng magpatuloy ito na pati ‘yung pagkain ay hindi na kayang bilhin ng pangkaraniwang pamilyang Pilipino (This cannot go on. We cannot go on like this when an ordinary Filipino family does not have the means to buy a meal). But the answer to that, my dear friends, is good governance. A clean and honest management of government affairs.),’’ he said.
Piñol noted that while he is not questioning the credentials of all candidates who are running for public office this election season, he is confident in choosing Lacson as the future Commander-in-Chief and he hopes people would see it that way, too.
‘’For instance, if we compare him (Lacson) to a boxer, he is the most veteran boxer. He has nerves of steel, his fighting style is certain, and only one thing has been consistent—to fight corruption, (he will) fix the government to improve your lives.]the longtime public servant from Cotabato said of Lacson.
Piñol also reiterated his endorsement of Sotto, his partymate at the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), as future vice president as well as his fellow senatorial aspirants Dr. Minguita Padilla and retired Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.
He felt proud of Sotto for standing by Lacson throughout this campaign period.
“Even after (Partido) Reporma abandoned my presidential candidate Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto decided to stay with the president, who he believes will be the best president of this country, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson—5/9, singko si (no. 5 for) Lacson, nuwebe si (no. 9 for) Sotto,” Piñol stated.
The former journalist and Cotabato governor implored the electorate to remember not just the names of politicians come Election Day, but more importantly the good policy directions and messages of hope presented to them by serious and highly experienced public servants.
“Ako po ay nagsusumamo, uulitin ko, pagpunta natin sa ating presinto sa Mayo 9... Isipin niyo muna ang inyong mga anak, ang inyong mga apo, at ang kanilang kinabukasan (I am pleading to you, I repeat, when we go to the polling precincts on May 9... Think about your children first, your grandchildren, and their future.) Pagkatapos, ikoneksyon niyo sa mga programang sinasambit ng mga nangangampanya,” Piñol reminded voters (Afterwards, connect them to the programs that the people who are campaigning have been telling you),’’ Piñol added.
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