Lacson downplays poor ratings in poll surveys

MANILA, Philippines — As he consistently trails his competitors in pre-election surveys, Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson remains optimistic that his single-digit poll rating does not reflect the groundswell of support he feels from the people.

“I will express my sentiment. I can’t believe that I’m only four percent, because I feel differently on the ground. I can’t believe I’m only two percent in NCR (National Capital Region),” Lacson said at his weekly Meet the Press forum yesterday.

The senator who runs in tandem with vice presidential candidate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, said he believes what he feels when he goes around to campaign.

“Whether I’m right (or wrong), we also have a feeling when we’re out (campaigning),” he said.

Lacson is hoping that communicating their platform of government to the public would resonate in the minds of voters.

“If the voters will believe our message, which is true, we’d be No. 1 for sure; if they will believe in our ability (to lead the country), we’d be No. 1 for sure; and if they believe in our sincerity, we’d be No. 1 for sure.”

Sotto agreed with Lacson, saying their tandem has the excellence when it comes to national concern, track record, and honesty in serving the public.

‘Oplan Wasak’

Also, Lacson revealed that a demolition job dubbed as “Oplan Wasak” (Operation Plan: Destroy) has been targeting him and Sotto in a bid to shut off their “Ubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Get rid of Thieves) narrative, which hurts a certain candidate.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police cited information he received that a political group is bankrolling the smear job against him at the grassroots level, but declined to identify the group or his rival candidate for now as his team is still verifying the information.

“While I do not have the slightest intention to zero-in on any particular person much less other candidates in my ‘Ubusin ang Magnanakaw’ narrative, I will not be cowed by such reports and threats of black propaganda via the so-called Oplan Wasak being plotted by some groups apparently hurt by my anti-corruption campaign,” Lacson said.

He said the plan is to discredit him so the people will not believe in his anti-corruption crusade.

“I remain determined to stick to my guns in fighting all forms of corruption in government – the kind of corruption that robs our people of their hopes and future,” he added.

Lacson said he decided to announce the Oplan Wasak to preempt the black propaganda against him and Sotto.

“Actually, that is being validated. I advised the campaign team to announce it, because it’s a bit detailed and someone is said to be hurting by me and SP (Senate President)’s magnanakaw narrative, meaning someone is affected, I don’t know who,” he said.

The senator also rejected a post on Twitter that there are two presidential candidates, both anti-corruption crusaders, who will withdraw from the race.

“I don’t want to connect that tweet to the information we gathered, but is that it; is it that?” Lacson asked. “They could be referring to Sen. Manny Pacquiao (also a presidential aspirant) because we are the only two candidates... enthusiastically attacking corruption practices.”

Lacson lauds Duterte on nat’l ID

Meanwhile, Lacson commended President Duterte for signing an executive order that institutionalizes the acceptance of the Philippine Identification (PhiIID) or Phil- ID System Number (PSN) as sufficient proof of identity in all private and government transactions.

“Thank you, President Rodrigo Duterte, for this. Being an author/sponsor of the measure in the Senate and a longtime advocate of the National ID system like you, I support you unequivocally in this regard,” he said on his Twitter account.

Under Executive Order 162, the President cited “an urgent need to institutionalize the acceptance of the PhilID and PSN, as authenticated, as sufficient proof of identity and age in all government and private transactions, to improve efficiency in the delivery of social services, strengthen financial inclusion and promote ease of doing business.”

Lacson authored and sponsored the PhilSys (National ID) measure in the Senate, in hopes not only of helping fight crime but also allowing all Filipinos better access to social services.