Filipinos run the risk of losing more than what they bargained for, if they continue to treat the country’s elections like an ordinary gamble, where they keep on mindlessly betting on someone who they think is most likely to win instead of voting for the most qualified candidate who can make everybody win.

Former party-list Representative Ashley "Ace" Acedillo, the spokesman for presidential candidate Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, issued this reminder to the electorate on Friday (April 29), especially those who remain undecided on who they will vote for as the next leader of our nation come Election Day.

‘’Let us not think like a gambler that we seem to place our bets only on those who we believe have higher chances of winning. Our votes should not be treated like bets on ordinary gambling. We should be voting based on our principles,’’ Acedillo said in an interview over DZRH online radio.

Acedillo noted that even in low stakes games, the perceived winner still has a high probability of losing the race despite building seemingly insurmountable leads, thus people should avoid making impulsive decisions, especially during elections where their lives and future are at stake.

‘’What we’re saying is that the votes of our people to our two most qualified, most experienced leaders with exceptional integrity will not be wasted.]he said, referring to Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ C. Sotto III.

“To be quite fair and to be quite frank, kung titingnan po talaga natin, kung (if we're only going to look at their qualifications) experience-wise, integrity-wise and track record-wise, wala na talagang tatalo dito sa tandem ng Lacson-Sotto (no one beats the Lacson-Sotto tandem),” Acedillo added.

Acedillo cited, as example, the ‘leadership by example’ policy enforced by Lacson when he was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001. It reformed the entire police organization, which is one of the toughest agencies to transform.

“The PNP enjoyed its highest approval rating ‘nung kanyang in-address (when Lacson addressed) ‘yung (the) issue about inept, corrupt, and undisciplined policemen,” the erstwhile party-list Representative reminded Filipinos.

Acedillo also pushed back against the continuing propaganda of Lacson’s opponents and their supporters that the 2022 race for the presidency is now only down to two contenders, saying it is totally different from the warm public reception they are still getting on the ground.

‘’We keep on fighting that narrative because that is not what the ground feedback is telling us. We are still gaining supporters. Before they were just quiet, but now, they have made it a point to be heard, to be seen and to be felt,’’ he pointed out.

‘’So, we are breaking that narrative. These elections are not down to two candidates. There are still alternative candidates who are more qualified (to be voted into office) by a mile,’’ he added.