Lacson mulls changing campaign slogan to 'We have a leader'

Senator Panfilo Lacson is considering dropping his campaign tagline "We need a leader" following his split with Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez who decided to shift his support to Vice President Leni Robredo's presidential campaign.

In an interview with reporters, Lacson explained that it was Alvarez who came up with the “We Need A Leader” tagline about two years ago.

“Now, kung hindi na para sa akin ‘yun, since s’ya naman ang unang nag-concoct ng phrase na ‘We need a leader’ then probably I might [consider] changing or tweaking it," Lacson said.

"We’re going to adopt probably something like 'We have a leader'. Mas maganda ‘di ba?” he added.

(If it no longer refers to me and since it was him who first concocted the phrase ‘We need a leader’ then probably I might consider changing or tweaking it. We’re going to adopt probably something like ‘We have a leader’. That’s better, right?)

Alvarez, the president of Partido Reporma, last week announced that he would transfer his support from Lacson's candidacy for president to that of Robredo.

This has prompted Lacson to resign as chairman and as a member of the party.

With these decisions in the middle of the campaign, Lacson said his campaign team was adjusting its strategies, specifically on the messaging.

“May adjustments actually yun ang gusto naming ma-overcome o ma-bridge. ‘Yung bar na yun na kung saan gusto kami dahil kami ang may qualifications, kami ang may competence pero laging may ‘pero,’ gusto naming i-break ang ‘pero.’ Gusto naming tanggalin ang ‘pero,’” Lacson said.

(There are adjustments. Actually, what we want to overcome or bridge is the bar where they wanted to vote for us because we have the qualifications, the competence, but there is always a “but.” We want to remove that “but” from the voters’ minds.)

Lacson said he had been told that seven out of ten people preferred him Lacson over the other presidential candidates, but these voters were concerned about his winnability.

“Probably sa messaging, sa communication strategy…doon kami magsi-shift actually…Imagine if all those who want to vote for me eh mawawala sa isipan nila na baka hindi manalo eh mananalo ako,” Lacson said.

(Probably, we will adjust our messaging and communication strategy. We will shift on that aspect. Imagine if all those who wanted to vote for me will not think about my winnability, I think I can win the elections.)

The presidential candidate also said he would focus on communicating directly with voters, saying he does not expect support from local leaders due to his “strong position” on pork barrel.

“So I am banking on the voters yung directly who will signify their intention to vote for me, or actually vote for me. Hindi ako masyadong umaasa talaga sa political leaders. Unang-una because of my strong position against pork barrel, marami rin talaga ang medyo hindi satisfied o hindi natutuwa sa akin so tanggap ko na yun na hindi ako dapat umasa sa mga political leaders,” Lacson said.

(So I am banking on the voters who will signify their intention to vote for me or actually vote for me. I am not relying much on the support of political leaders. First of all, because of my strong position against pork barrel. A lot are quite not satisfied or happy about me so I already accepted that I should not rely on the support of political leaders.)

Lacson said he hoped that the voters would be “enlightened” about his platforms after the interview, forums and debates.

“Palagay ko naman meron silang judgment kung sino ang talagang may kakayahan, may karanasan at may pwedeng gawin so I'm just hoping na mag-hold on yung ganung attitude. So be it,” Robredo said.

(I believe that they have the judgment to identify who has the competence, the experience and someone who can make a change so I’m just hoping that they will hold on to that attitude. So be it.) —NB, GMA News