Wearing the colors of the Philippine flag, presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson called on voters Friday to launch a "silent revolution" using their ballots on May 9 and elect "deserving" leaders as he wrapped up his campaign in his home province Cavite.
Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III held their miting de avance or final campaign rally in Carmona town before an estimated 50,000 supporters according to organizers.
"Inaanyayahan ko kayo na maglunsad tayo ng isang rebolusyon. Hindi po rebolusyon na tulad ng pinaglaban ng ating mga ninuno ng ating mga bayani. Ito po ay isang tahimik ka rebolusyon kung saan ang ating gamit ay ang ating mga panulat upang i-shade sa balota ang mga pangalan ng mga dapat at karapat-dapat na mamuno sa ating bansa," Lacson said in his speech.
READ: Why Lacson, Sotto Wear Checkered Polos During Campaigns
The former national police chief also paid tribute to Sotto for sticking it out despite "temptations" to abandon their tandem.
"Napakaraming temptation. Maraming kumakausap sa kanya. 'Iwanan mo na si Ping gusto ka namin ampunin'. Sabi niya 'Hindi. Hinding hindi ko iiwanan si Ping Lacson dahil nagsimula kaming lumahok sa laban na ito at matatapos kaming dalaw na magkasama'. Maraming salamat partner sa iyong pagkakaibigan," Lacson said.
Lacson has been consistently trailing behind in pre-election surveys with a 2% voter preference share as of the last Pulse Asia poll. Sotto meanwhile fared better in opinion surveys, just behind President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter Sara.
Lacson went independent halfway through the campaign period after his political party Partido Reporma endorsed the presidential bid of rival Leni Robredo.
READ:
Lacson's Reporma Endorses Robredo for President After He Quits Party
What's Next for Ping Lacson After Own Party Endorses Leni Robredo?
'Don't waste votes on thieves, fraudsters'
Lacson, who has built a reputation in the Senate as a graft-buster and budget scrutinizer, urged the public to shun thieves and fraudsters when they vote on May 9.
"Kapag tayo po ay nagkamali at ang ating naiboto ay isang magnanakaw, anim na taon tayong pagnanakawan. Kapag tayo ay nagkamali at ang ating ibinoto ay manloloko, mapaglinlang mapagkunwari, anim na taon tayong lolokohin," he said.
"Huwag natin payagan na ang ating kabataan ang susunod na henerasyon ay mawalan ng pag-asa sa ating bayan," he added.
Members of the Lacson-Sotto tandem senatorial line-up, including retired Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, former Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol, former senators JV Ejercito and Gringo Honasan, and medical doctor Ming Padilla.
If elected president, Lacson had said in the past that he would let the public scrutinize his bank accounts to set the tone for good governance and encourage everyone in government to follow his lead in waiving their rights under the bank secrecy law as a way to restore public trust.
READ:
How to Spot, Report Election Offenses Like Vote-Buying
How to Prepare to Accept the May 9 Election Results
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