Ping to hold final rally in Cavite

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III will hold their miting de avance or final rally today in Cavite even as they made a fervent appeal to Filipinos to vote for leaders who are trustworthy and capable of pulling the country out of the economic and health crisis.

The rally, the second and last of such events from the tandem since the start of the campaign, will be held in Carmona a day ahead of their rivals, who are staging their respective events tomorrow.

Except for the kick-off rally last Feb. 8, Lacson and Sotto have opted to hold dialogues and town hall meetings, saying such allow them to interact and listen to the concerns and aspirations of Filipinos compared to campaign rallies that are only one-sided.

“I don’t feel the ‘zero voting preference’,” Lacson told a press conference here after coming to Maguindanao, referring to pre-election surveys that showed him getting zero votes in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He said such ratings appear to be a blessing in disguise because their supporters were challenged and “prompted to do more” to help them win.

Sotto said before voting, Filipinos should think of the candidates who worked hard even at the height of the pandemic and “did not hide from danger to serve the people.”

He said he and Lacson were physically present in all sessions of the Senate despite the lockdowns when vaccines were still not available to pass laws that authorized the government to give emergency financial assistance to sectors affected by the pandemic, while rivals were “hiding behind their computers.”

“The irony of it all, when the campaign started, we were the ones careful (in following health protocols) but they were not,” Lacson said.

Dr. Minguita Padilla, a senatorial candidate, appealed to voters “to spend the next couple of days reflecting, praying hard for our country.”

“Ask yourselves and think about the problems of the country, and think of who can bring our country to a safe place, to rescue us from danger. Let’s do a lot of reflection,” she said.