Lacson backs Noynoy

CEBU, Philippines - Senator Panfilo Lacson, who several months ago was the first to withdraw from the presidential race, yesterday threw his support behind the anticipated bid of fellow Senator Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III for the presidency.

In the same breath, Lacson called on former president Joseph Estrada to drop his own ambitions to regain the presidency after he was ousted in a popular uprising in 2001 and later convicted of plunder.

Lacson explained his support for Aquino by saying “If integrity is one of the standards, Senator Noynoy would definitely pass my book.”

Lacson, who withdrew from the presidential race because of poor ratings and lack of campaign funds, said he does not believe the son of former president Corazon Aquino and slain opposition leader Ninoy Aquino would abuse his power and enrich himself in office if elected.

Aquino himself has not formally announced his presidential bid, saying he needed time to make up his mind. Yesterday he flew to Mindanao to go into a weekend spiritual retreat.

Aquino was thrust into the political fray in the aftermath of his mother’s death, when a massive outpouring of sympathy awakened the passions that underpinned the bloodless People Power uprising in 1986 that overthrew the dictator Marcos and installed his mother into power.

The mounting clamor for Aquino to run for president seriously undermined the separate presidential bid of partymate and friend Senator Mar Roxas.

Roxas had long kicked off his informal campaign but despite having spent a fortune in the process, his ratings remained low, and so last Tuesday, Roxas called a press conference to announce his withrawal from the race and threw his support behind Aquino.

Following Lacson and Roxas, former priest and now Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio also withdrew his presidential bid.

After announcing his support for Aquino, Lacson said it is now incumbent upon Estrada to also withdraw from the race in order to unite the opposition and strengthen its chances of victory against an expected administration juggernaut.

The administration has not yet named its presidential bid, but it is expected to have a formidable war chest, a well-oiled campaign machinery, and a formidable grassroots organization.

Analysts believe that the more contenders there are for president, the bigger the chances for the administration bet to win.

Senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party, considered one of the strongest candidates from the ranks of the opposition and who is leading in all surveys, is not expected to step aside.

With Estrada saying he is not stepping aside unless the opposition comes up with only one candidate, hopes for a single candidate are expected to be dashed completely.

Lacson said the influence of Estrada in without question. “If he leads the unification move, the opposition will likely end up with only one standard bearer.

But the camp of Estrada rejected the call of Lacson outrightly.

“With all due respect, Senator Lacson has no right to lecture President Erap on uniting the opposition because he was the cause of disunity in the opposition in 2004,” said Margaux Salcedo, Estrada’s spokesperson.

She was referring to Lacson’s unsuccessful presidential bid in 2004 when he ran against actor Fernando Poe Jr., the candidate endorsed by Estrada. Poe placed second to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo while Lacson placed third.

Analysts say had Lacson withdrawn then in favor of Poe, the actor could have beaten Arroyo. — from the wires/JST (THE FREEMAN)