Lacson's biggest regret in Eleksyon 2022: Joining a political party

BAY, Laguna — Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday that joining a political party was his biggest regret during his presidential campaign this year.

Lacson started his second presidential run as the standard bearer of Partido Reporma, but before the campaign of local candidates began on March 25, the party led by Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez shifted their support to Vice President Leni Robredo.

This forced Lacson to resign

“Sana ‘di na lang ako nag-partido. I could have done better running as an indpendent in the first place, looking back. Na-miscalculate ko ang mga politicians,” Lacson said at a press conference.

“Sabihin nating naisahan pero sabi ko nga no heartaches, no ill feelings dahil after all, elections is just one day pero there are lessons learned. Ang regret ko nga lang because this is my last run, I won’t be able to apply the lessons learned sa sarili ko. That’s my only regret,” he added.

On the last day of the official campaign period for Eleksyon 2022, Lacson, his running-mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and their senatorial candidates—former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar and Dr. Minguita Padilla—held a caravan in the unreached areas in Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas.

According to Lacson, going to the small streets to interact with the people is one of the missed opportunities in his campaign.

“Looking back, again, siguro one of the little regrets, probably we could have done more of what we did this morning because there are places na hindi man lang pinpansin ng mga politiko, especially national and people were very enthusiastic,” Lacson said.

“They were very excited and the mere fact that we did not even talk to them. Well, banter pero hindi ‘yung parang nag-uusap tungkol sa mga issues. The mere presence na nakita kami, e sabi nila hands down iboboto na kami but that is also regrettable kasi hindi na nga tumitingin sa issues ‘yung mga kababayan natin when they choose their candidates,” he added.

He said the caravan that they conducted on Saturday was "very satisfying," even though he hoped that the campaign period would be extended so they could visit more areas.

One thing that he is proud of their campaign, Lacson said, was their town hall meetings.

“The mere fact na pinansin sila, doon natin makikita talaga na bumabaw na ‘yung kaligayahan ng mga botante natin and that is regrettable. Dapat talaga nakikinig sa issues kaya we’re so proud of ourselves because we started that crusade, that renaissance. If it goes somewhere, something positive will come out of it then happy kami doon,” he said.

Lacson first ran for president in 2004, but lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. —VBL, GMA News