Lacson drops out of presidential race

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo Lacson announced yesterday his decision to back out of the 2010 presidential race, citing mainly financial concerns.

Lacson made the announcement during a taped message aired at the beginning of the second ANC Leadership Forum where he was supposed to be a guest along with former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Loren Legarda, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Last May, Lacson told Senate reporters before the session that he was “101 percent sure” to run in 2010.

He is currently facing
 allegations that he was one of those who masterminded the double murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

In withdrawing from the race, Lacson said reaching out to the voters, particularly those in the D and E income levels, which altogether comprise some four-fifths of the population, does not come easy. He stressed that “it is most expensive in a political system which has neither strong institutions nor correct procedures.”

He said there were times that he entertained the thought of accepting the P200 million yearly pork barrel which he could use in his campaign, but he kept his integrity because he was elected to serve the people.

He cited France’s Charles de Gaulle, who after putting order back in a land wracked by anarchy, said that “in order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant.”

“I bow to that reality, which is why I have chosen not to participate any more in this laudable forum of those who seek the presidency of the land. And I beg your favor that you read this message that springs from my heart,” he added, explaining his absence from the ANC forum.

“Up until I made this decision last Sunday to retire from a race that would matter most in the lives of our beloved countrymen, I had every intention to share with our people my vision of what the Philippines ought to be in a Lacson presidency,” he said.

He maintained that poverty and the lack of health services, education and security for the people would not be solved by dole- outs from politicians during elections season.

Lacson said these kinds of assistance from politicians were easy to give out because they were stolen from government coffers.

“One cannot discipline if one is unable to discipline oneself. One cannot preach clean government if one is himself on the take, or his relatives and cronies are themselves the thieves. If a president cannot lead by the power of good example, then governance will always be bad,” he said.

“Rest assure that in time, we will all join together to support a leader who could best deliver our people from the bondage they now suffer. That leader must have both the competence and character that are the preconditions to purposive leadership so imperative in these crossroads of the nation’s life,” Lacson said.

Mixed reactions

Other guests in the forum – Legarda, Estrada, Binay and Fernando said they were surprised with Lacson’s decision but shared his sentiments as regards the country’s current state.

“I see where Ping (Lacson) is coming from,” Legarda said. But she expressed confidence that Lacson would not renege on his responsibility to the people in fighting corruption.

Estrada said he could not speak for Lacson but the senator was a “most qualified candidate.”

He said he had worked with Lacson and appointed him PNP chief, and the senator was able to cleanse the image of the police and curbed kidnapping, as well as carnapping.

Estrada, who is also being linked to the Dacer-Corbito murders, could not say whether Lacson’s decision had anything to do with the case especially with the return to the country of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II, who vowed to testify on the killings.

Binay said he agreed with the observations of Lacson but was “very optimistic” that the country could still be changed.

Fernando did not react much about Lacson’s announcement.

Sen. Francis Escudero said he was surprised and saddened by the decision but he believes Lacson’s “sacrifice” would pave the way for the opposition to unite.

Lacson’s ratings in the survey had not been encouraging especially after the Dacer-Corbito issue resurfaced.

Based on Pulse Asia surveys, Lacson’s ratings declined by nine percent from October 2007 to May 2009.

In the May 2009 survey, Lacson was preferred by only four percent of respondents. He was behind six other presidential aspirants and tied with Binay.

Palace unaffected

Meanwhile, Malacañang maintained that Lacson’s announcement has no effect on the political plans of the administration even as officials said the Dacer-Corbito double murder case could have weighed heavily in his decision.

Presidential political affairs adviser Gabriel Claudio also said he does not recall Lacson having formally announced his intention to run for president next year.

“I don’t remember Sen. Lacson having categorically declared he was running for president in the first place,” he said.

“His decision not to run will have no bearing on the administration. He was not doing well in the surveys anyway,” Claudio said.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez echoed Claudio’s comments but added the double-murder case could have been a major factor in Lacson’s decision.

“The greatest consideration for him to back out would be the allegations involving him in a double-murder case and that one must be given the highest priority over any personal ambition,” Golez said.

He said it was understandable that financiers would not support weak candidates.

Claudio also dismissed allegations from Estrada that Lacson’s move was caused by pressure from the administration.

“There’s no campaign being waged by the administration to persecute or harass leaders of the opposition or eliminate them from the presidential race,” he said.

“Whatever political setbacks they are encountering now, are either providential, karmic or of their own making,” he said. – With Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero