Lacson-Sotto to end Eleksyon 2022 campaign with caravan in unreached areas in Luzon

The tandem of presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential bet Vicente Sotto III will end their 2022 national campaign with a caravan in unreached areas in Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, "deviating" from the usual crowded miting de avances.

This was disclosed by Lacson at a press conference in Tagaytay City, saying he seeks to be different from the usual "narrative" of miting de avances.

"Ang iniisip naming gawin, mag-kumusta ka sa lugar na historically, traditionally, hindi pinapasyalan ng mga kandidato. 'Yung mga liblib na lugar, gusto naming pasyalan at kamustahin diretso ang mga tao. Mga maliliit na bayan, pero dito actually lang sa Luzon," Lacson said.

(What we are planning to do is to meet with the residents of areas that are historically and traditionally not visited by politicians more often.)

"Leapfrog in Laguna, Mabitac, Siniloan, Rizal, mga maliliit na bayan na talagang hindi puntahin. So 'yun na lang ang plano naming pasyalan ...kung sino abutin, hindi organized. Mainam na 'yung hindi spontaneous," he added.

(We will leapfrog in Laguna, Mabitac, Siniloan, Rizal. Those small localities. We plan to visit them. We will not organize the people there. It is better to do it simultaneously.)

Lacson said they will also distribute sample ballots during the caravan.

Sotto, who was just informed of the plan during the press conference,  said that would be a good decision as they might face a tight schedule if they will push through with their supposed miting de avance at Plaza Miranda in front of Quiapo Church in Manila.

"Nalaman ko the other day...na ang problema pala hanggang alas otso ng gabi ang misa doon sa simbahan kaya kung maguumpisa tayo, after 8 p.m. e baka abutin tayo ng alas 12 (ng hating-gabi) ma-disqualify pa tayong dalawa dahil lampas na," Sotto said.

(I just learned the other day that the mass there is until 8 p.m. So we can only start the program after 8 p.m. If we go beyond 12 midnight, we might face disqualification.)

The end of the official campaign period for Eleksyon 2022 is on May 7.

"Kung 'yon ang plano, mas gusto ko yon, makarating, makausap natin ang mga kababayan natin," he added.

(I prefer that plan because we can reach and talk to our countrymen.)

Survey results

On the other hand, Lacson lamented how survey results affect endorsements of huge organizations such as Iglesia ni Cristo, which is known for their bloc voting.

"'Yung mga nasasagap na information, mukhang iba ang ine-endorse nila and we respect that. 'Di naman lahat ng election mag-eexpect ka na ie-endorse ka," Lacson, who got the endorsement of the INC in all his senatorial bids, said.

(The information that we receive says that they are endorsing a different candidate and we respect that. We cannot expect their endorsement in every election.)

"'Yun nga ang downside minsan ng mga surveys. Even the traditional campaign contributors, tumitingin sa surveys," he added.

(Sometimes, that is the downside of these surveys. Even the traditional campaign contributors look at the surveys.)

Lacson said he will welcome any endorsement should he receive the support of the INC, saying this will also bear weight.

"Any endorsement from a group, particularly yung malalaking grupo siyempre most welcome especially kapag bloc voting. Talagang it also matters but it is not the be all and end all of the elections kasi marami rin namang na-endorse na di nanalo at mayroon ding hindi na-endorse na nanalo," Lacson said.

(Any endorsement from a group, particularly if these are big groups, is most welcome, especially if they practice bloc voting. It really matters but it is not the be all and end all of the elections because  there are candidates who were endorsed but they did not win the elections and there are also candidates who were not endorsed but they won the elections.)

"In my case, all my senatorial runs, I was endorsed. Of course, I won... Probably kung hindi ako ie-endorse, ito ang second time na hindi ako ieendorse ng Iglesia," he added.

(Probably, if they will not endorse me, this is the second time that Iglesia won't back my bid.)

For his part, Sotto hoped that big organizations will endorse based on the candidates' track record.

"We can only wish that all the groups that are endorsing candidates will base it on track record and what they can do for the country, what they have done and not based on the surveys," he said. — RSJ, GMA News