“Pumili tayo ng mabuti! Isipin natin ang kinabukasan ng susunod na henerasyon.” (Let’s choose wisely. Let’s think of the future of the next generation).
Partido Reporma standard bearer Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson made the impassioned plea as he and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III, along with the rest of their senatorial candidates, formally launched their campaign on Tuesday afternoon, February 8, in Imus, Cavite.
Lacson, in his speech, appealed to the crowd to exert efforts to scrutinize the credentials of all candidates, from presidential, vice presidential, senators, even those running for local positions—before casting their vote in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
“Pumili tayo ng mabuti. Isipin natin ang kinabukasan ng susunod na henerasyon; huwag na natin isipin sarili natin. Isipin natin ang kinabukasan ng ating magiging anak, magiging anak ng ating mga anak (Let’s vote wisely. Let’s think about the future of the next generation; let’s not think about ourselves. Let’s think about the future of our future children, the children of our children),” Lacson emphasized during their group’s proclamation rally at the Imus Grandstand.
But for their part, Lacson said he hopes voters would listen to their platform of governance and consider the combined solid experience in government of the Lacson-Sotto tandem. They said their combined 83 years in government service was never tainted by corruption.
Both Lacson and Sotto anchored their qualifications to man the helm of the Philippine Republic on discipline, courage, vision and knowledge.
“Di naman namin pinagpipilitan ang sarili namin, pero piliin natin (ang susunod na mga lider) kasi ang magsa-suffer tayo. Anim na taon, pagsisisihan natin ang ating nagawa pag nagkamali tayo ng iboboto (We are not forcing ourselves, but please let’s choose our next leaders wisely, because we will all suffer. For another six years, we will regret what we did if we failed to vote correctly),” Lacson said.
“We are your servants. Ni minsan hindi kami tumanggap ng suhol sa aming serbisyong pampubliko. Our battle cry, aayusin ang gobyerno para maging maayos ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino (We never asked for bribes during the entire time of our public service. Our battle cry is this: we will fix the government so every Filipino’s lives would be better),” added Lacson.
“Hinding-hindi ko kayo ipapahiya, hinding hindi ko kayo bibiguin,” he further said.
Sotto also rallied supporters and the crowd to think of the May 9, 2022 elections as the opportunity to effect real change in the Philippines. With his 42 years in matters of legislation, Sotto said he and Lacson would try to bring back the people’s trust in the courts, the police and those who run the government.
“Napakaraming problema ng bansa...at ang paniniwala namin ni Sen. Lacson ay kailangan talaga na maibalik ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan sa pamumuno ng bansa (the country has so many problems, and Sen. Lacson and I believe that there is really a need to help restore the people’s faith and trust in quality leadership),” Sotto stressed.
Prior to their speech, the Lacson-Sotto tandem introduced their senatorial candidates, namely: former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol, Dr. Minguita Padilla, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar and former Makati Congressman Monsour del Rosario.
Guest senatorial candidates Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Sen. Richard Gordon and former Senators Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero, Loren Legarda, Joseph Victor ‘’JV’’ Ejercito, and Richard J. Gordon addressed the crowd thru a video message .
Zubiri’s wife, Audrey, and former Senator Gregorio Honasan’s sister, spoke to the crowd. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was represented by his brother Rep. Wes Gatchalian
Lacson and Sotto first attended mass at the Imus Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. before they proceeded to the Imus Grandstand for the proclamation rally.
They pumped their fists as a gesture of faith and confidence with each other as they take their respective public service careers to even greater heights this 2022 elections.