Lacson hints at possibility of pulling a major upset in the May 9 elections (Sabong News)

Independent presidential candidate Senator Panfilo M. Lacson today (April 28) hinted at a possibility of his and his running mate Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III pulling a major upset in the coming May 9 elections. A press statement from the Lacson-Sotto tandem stated that survey frontrunners should not be proud because Lacson met a lot of people who are secretly campaigning for him and Sotto regardless of their standings in the pre-election surveys. Pre-election surveys showed that former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. continues to lead the 10-man pack by a mile. Coming second is Vice President Leni Robredo and third is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso. The fourth spot is being contested by Lacson and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao. Speaking to a crowd of supporters during the CAMANAVA swing of their campaign trail on Thursday (April 28), Lacson indicated a strong chance of him and Sotto clinching a come-from-behind win on Election Day, based on the assurances of some of the registered voters they met on the ground. “Every time we go to a place… Malayo man sa kabihasnan, nasa siyudad man o nasa malayong kanayunan [Every time we go to a place… No matter how distant from the capital, whether in a city or a far-flung rural town). May lalapit sa amin at bubulong—marami po sila—‘Senator, Mr. Senate President, kami po nandito lamang. Mga silent supporters niyo po kami (There would be people who would come to us and whisper—there’s a lot of them— ‘Senator, Mr. Senate President, we are just here. We are your silent supporters.),’’ Lacson told a town hall forum in Malabon City. Lacson said he could no longer count how many of those people personally came forward to him and pledged their support. He noted this is what fuels his resolve to stay in contention for the 2022 presidential race without relying too much on the endorsement of particular groups or politicians. ‘’We have so many silent supporters. They told us, they (people) might be surprised that on May 9, we will be there. When we go to the polling booth, they would be really surprised that what will come out of our ballots (are votes for) ‘Lacson-Sotto,’’ according to the independent presidential bet. One of the town hall forum participants who attended his public gathering at the Atis Covered Court in Potrero, Malabon City said he was also present in the political rallies of other presidential tandems, but it was his first-time to engage in a conversation with potential future leaders in Lacson and Sotto. ‘’I was just on the far end of the crowd (in the sorties) of other presidential candidates, but today I am given an opportunity to ask questions… I am proud to vote for the three of you in the upcoming election,’’ Lacson said quoting an 18-year-old first-time voter named ‘Asher’. Lacson and Sotto campaigned in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela together with one of their senatorial candidates Dr. Minguita Padilla. The presidential bet reiterated that they really opted to hold dialogues with the people instead of huge rallies to establish two-way communication. The veteran statesman urged voters to put a premium on the competence, experience and track record of all candidates when they go to the polling places roughly 12 days from now to elect their next sets of national and local government leaders. ‘’Carefully analyze who are the most qualified, who are the most competent, who are the most experienced and shade the (number of those candidates) in your ballots. We will not be embarrassed to tell you that we are the most qualified, we are the most competent, and we are the most experienced,’’ Lacson said. Aside from him, Sotto and Dr. Padilla, Lacson also endorsed the senatorial bids of former national police director-general Guillermo Eleazar and former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, who are part of his core team throughout the campaign period. Lacson, likewise, mentioned the names of two of their guest senatorial candidates such as former Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II. “Let us not forget about them,” he said.