Lacson-Sotto ticket christened ‘The Magnificent 5’ (Sabong News)

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his carefully assembled crew of dedicated public servants and anti-corruption crusaders have a new name–“The Magnificent 5.” The catchy name was hatched by senatorial aspirant and former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol”, who is part of the team. Piñol dropped their new moniker during his remarks at the Tarlac State University, Monday (April 25), when he joined Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III for their regular campaign activities in Tarlac City. ‘’Our group is only small but we are ‘The Magnificent 5.’ There are only five of us who usually come together (to campaign publicly) because we do not need a battalion of politicians to save this nation,’’ Piñol told voters in Tarlac who gathered for their town hall meeting. “Kailangan lang natin ng isang matinong presidente tulad ni Ping Lacson na mamumuno para magbago ang buhay natin. Alam niyo kung anong problema ng ating bansa? Tulad ng sinabi ni Ping Lacson, korapsyon (What we only need is a good president in Ping Lacson who will lead us and change our lives for the better. Do you know what is the main problem of our country? It is what Ping Lacson said: corruption),’’ the former agriculture chief added, vouching for the leadership of Lacson. ‘The Magnificent 5’ is composed of Lacson, Sotto, Piñol and senatorial candidates Dr. Minguita Padilla and retired police General Guillermo Eleazar. Dr. Padilla and Eleazar were not present in Tarlac as they were scheduled to campaign elsewhere on behalf of the group. With two weeks left in the official campaign period, Piñol echoed what Lacson said before the voters of Tarlac, which is to be discerning in electing future national and local leaders who will be tasked to shape the future of our country and its people. Piñol reiterated his earnest appeal for the public to shun the so-called “entertainment politics” that are being tolerated by some candidates this election season, particularly those who were so amused by the viral yet nonsensical dance craze called ‘Paro Paro G.’ “Hindi po ito entertainment business (This is not an entertainment business). This is serious business. Sapagkat tayo po ay lalabas sa isang krisis at kailangan natin ng isang matibay, matatag at mapagkakatiwalaang lider ng bansa,” according to the senatorial aspirant (This is serious business. Because we are trying to get out of a crisis and we need a strong, stable and trustworthy leader for our nation),’’ he added. “My dear friends, let us not be entertained by the dances and singing, and bright lights and colorful confetti. This campaign is beyond colors. It is beyond music; it is beyond dancing. This campaign is all about the future of this country,” Piñol stressed. Piñol said he was encouraged to campaign for the Lacson-Sotto tandem because of their clear track record and stance on corruption. He noted that Lacson even refused to take his pork barrel allocation as well as monetary rewards from his rescued kidnap victims to prove his incorruptibility. “Ito ang taong alam niya kung saan dadalhin ang ating bansa (This is the person who already knows where he is going to take our country). Isang maliwanag na kinabukasan na kung saan ang korapsyon ay mababawasan natin at ang perang ating malikom ay maibibigay sa ating mamamayan in the form of services (Toward a brighter future where corruption will be significantly reduced and the taxpayers’ money that are collected will be returned to our countrymen in the form of services),’’ Piñol said of Lacson. Piñol further stated that he is counting on all Filipinos who genuinely care about the future of our nation to make the right decision this time around and vote for the Lacson-Sotto tandem for the sake of their children and grandchildren. ‘’If we get it wrong and we did not elect the right president this May 9, our nation would be held back once again, and our children and grandchildren might get back at us. ‘Grandpa, what did you do? Why didn’t you do the right thing?’ Let us not commit that mistake,’’ Piñol said.