Lacson remains hopeful of poll victory thanks to volunteers' efforts (Sabong News)

In the final week of the national campaign period, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson remains hopeful he will be granted an opportunity to steer the nation toward a new and better direction. In a tweet posted on Monday, May 2) Lacson paid tribute to the members of his BRAVE (Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment) Movers who went to great lengths, visiting the hinterlands of Barangay Tabing-Ilog in Licab, Nueva Ecija just to deliver his messages of hope and promises of good governance in the run-up to the 2022 national elections. “Pray tell, which candidate will not be inspired by volunteers who risk their limbs, selflessly campaigning in the ‘deepest corners’ of the country?” Lacson said. In a press conference he held on Labor Day, May 1 together with his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Lacson spoke glowingly about his group of volunteers who were sincerely campaigning for their team since day one. Lacson said they are banking on the continuing support of 500,000 organic volunteers nationwide, who are focused on reaching out to the voters that are often ignored or rarely visited by other candidates. “They don’t concentrate on highways, on major thoroughfares. Ang pinapasok nila talaga mga liblib. (They are going inside remote locations). Sa tingin namin ‘yon ang mga bumoboto e, na hindi nararating ‘nung mga ibang kandidato, unless hakutin papunta sa bayan (We believe those people are the ones who are voting, who are not visited by other candidates, unless they are carried and sent to the central part of town),’’ the presidential aspirant said. ‘’I was so touched by what they are doing… We have those kinds of volunteers who are really very sincere and selfless in giving assistance. They are going to the deepest corners of the municipalities and the villages. So, we’re banking on that because these are not reflected in the surveys,’’ Lacson pointed out. Last Sunday, May 1, Lacson and Sotto secured the support of major public transport groups such as Pasang Masda, ACTO (Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations), and other jeepney organizations who organized their motorcade in Metro Manila. They went around seven cities to wave at supporters, exchanging fist bumps, even among the bus passengers who reached out to shake their hands. Lacson and Sotto said they are grateful for these “spontaneous” moments, which fuel their confidence about their chances of winning the elections. ‘’There are areas filled with so many people, there are areas where the crowd is small. But I never heard a single person who screamed negatively. I did not hear them shouting names other than Lacson-Sotto. I’m aware that in the motorcades (of other candidates), there were people cursing,’’ Sotto said. ‘’And that (motorcade) was spontaneous, which we prefer… Because it is not our style to organize (activities) only to make it appear that there are a lot of people supporting us, carrying too many crowds. That’s not our style,’’ he added, Lacson mentioned that throughout their campaign activities, they as candidates were very civil toward all kinds of people they meet on the road and accord them the same level of respect, knowing that like them, they also have different moods.