Presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson speaks to the crowd at their town hall meeting in Tarlac City on Monday, April 25, 2022. (Photo from Lacson-Sotto Media Bureau)
TARLAC CITY, Tarlac, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Military Academy batch mates of presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson trooped behind him and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, as they campaigned here with a little over two weeks to go before voters shade their ballots on May 9.
Tarlac, a vote-rich province, is considered the bailiwick of the Aquino clan.
Recently, its governor, Susan Yap, endorsed the candidacies of Lacson and Sotto鈥檚 rivals, former Sen. Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
But during a town hall meeting at the on Monday, Lacson鈥檚 PMA mistahs, including those who worked with him during his stint as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), showed him their support by accompanying him on stage.
Among them is another former PNP chief, retired Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, who served as Lacson鈥檚 spokesperson when he was still the PNP chief.
Bartolome, who hails from Tarlac, also served as PNP chief under a fellow Tarlaque帽o, then-President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Retired Major Generals Rey Acop, Ray Rivera, and Dong Tabamo were also present during the town hall meeting.
Lacson likewise mentioned retired colonel turned lawyer Oscar Martinez, who was their valedictorian in the PMA Class of 1971, as well as Jun Fabros, who served in the Philippine Navy.
In his opening speech, Lacson acknowledged Bartolome鈥檚 active effort in supporting his candidacy.
鈥淗e has been switching places, going to Cotabato and back home to Tarlac, and he is continuing the same advocacies I had when I was chief PNP 鈥� that is, to discipline the ranks of the police force, eliminate corruption, and restore public trust to the PNP,鈥� Lacson said in Filipino.
During the town hall meeting, the tandem鈥檚 preferred approach in their campaign, Lacson and Sotto stressed the reason why the public should vote for them.
Citing their decades in public service, they promised to properly implement laws crafted in the chamber they had served for so many years.
鈥淟et us remember, once we enter our polling precincts and think about those we are going to vote for, may you be left with no other choice but to vote for the most qualified, most competent, who have the longest experience in public service and who are honest,鈥� Lacson told Tarlaque帽os.
For his part, former Agriculture Secretary Manny Pi帽ol, who is running for senator, urged voters not to be swayed by performances during campaign rallies in making their choices.
鈥淟et us not be entertained by dances, bright lights. This campaign is beyond colors. It鈥檚 beyond music. This campaign is all about the future of this country,鈥� Pi帽ol said.
鈥楽ilent majority鈥�
After their town hall meeting, Lacson and Sotto paid courtesy to Tarlac City Mayor Ma. Cristina Angeles as well as Yap.
In a press conference at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol, Lacson said he and Sotto were banking on the province鈥檚 鈥渟ilent majority鈥� to help them secure votes.
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