Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said ardent supporters of presidential candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson have adopted a never-say-die mentality, as they remain upbeat about his ability to conquer the odds of the current political campaign.
In a virtual interview, Magalong asserted that pre-election surveys do not entirely determine the outcome of the elections. He cited his own experience when he first ran for mayor, three years after retiring from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Magalong recalled he was 36 percentage points behind his leading opponents in the 2019 mayoral race in Baguio City a couple of months before the elections.
Instead of losing hope, he and his team ‘’restrategized’’ to gain even just a little momentum toward the final stretch of the local campaign period. It worked.
“Anything can happen in politics... Hindi namin pinabayaan na maapektuhan kami ng survey na ‘yon (We didn’t let the surveys affect us.) Tuloy-tuloy (We kept going), we had a plan of action for the next two and a half months, and we pursued it... It’s not (too) late, anything can happen,” he noted.
In a related development, residents from the island of Romblon will get a glimpse of a "Council of Two" leadership from presidential candidate Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III who are scheduled to visit the province.
On Monday, April 4, Lacson and Sotto will hold campaign activities in the town of Odiongan, which is located on the island of Tablas. The municipality will be celebrating its 175th Foundation Day, coinciding with the feast of their patron saint San Vicente Ferrer.
Both public servants are expected to attend an agriculture trade fair, which gives them the opportunity to promote their proposed policies for the farmers and fisherfolk, as well as for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
Lacson and Sotto will then travel to the capital of Romblon, which is on the next island. There they will hold their usual town hall meeting with multi-sectoral organizations to discuss their flagship Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program.
As regards the recent developments in the presidential campaign of Lacson, Magalong said he felt sad that he was abandoned by his political party. He believed it was a premeditated move on the part of Lacson’s scheming opponents, though he admitted he has limited knowledge over what happened.
Be that as it may, the former PNP deputy director general trusts that Lacson and everyone who is genuinely supporting him in his campaign would prevail over this setback. They have come this far, therefore, it makes no sense for them to throw in the towel.
“We just simply have to be optimistic about it. Let’s not give up. Ako, malakas pa rin ‘yung aking paniniwala. (My belief remains strong)—win or lose. I believe that I chose the right person to lead this country, and I know he’s the right person to lead this country,” Magalong said of Lacson.
The Baguio City chief executive also dismissed insinuations that vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III is already being paired up with other presidential aspirants. Magalong is convinced that Lacson and Sotto shall remain as running mates.
“Knowing Senator Sotto, knowing Senator Lacson, may word of honor (ang mga) ‘yan. They will not abandon each other... Maski i-torture pa ‘yan, hindi siya (Sotto) tatalikod sa kanyang paniniwala. Hindi siya mang-iiwan (Knowing Senator Sotto, knowing Senator Lacson, they have a word of honor. They will not abandon each other... Even if you torture him , he won’t turn his back on this belief. He will not leave us behind), Magalong said.
Magalong is among the hundreds of former police and military generals, government officials, and civilian volunteers who signed a manifesto of support for Lacson to keep him in contention as the next president of the Philippines.