Lacson guns for Manila mayoralty – Malaya 11.14.2006

Sets talks with Lim who is seeking to reclaim post

BY DENNIS GADIL

SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday decided to forego a seeming sure win for re-election in 2007 and opted instead to run for mayor of Manila.

"My biggest frustration in the Senate is my advocacy to do away with the pork barrel. I thought that by setting the example by foregoing my own pork barrel I could convince my colleagues to do the same. But that never happened," he said at a news forum at the Manila Hotel.

Lacson’s announcement prompted Sen. Alfredo Lim, a fellow oppositionist, to also declare he will be running for his old post.

"Lahat sila welcome sa akin. Mas marami, mas masaya," said Lim, whose Senate term ends in 2010.

Lacson said he will sit down with Lim, touted to be his strongest rival.

"That’s the ideal situation, that only one of us should run. Because in our consultations, we have seen that if both of us would run, we might lose the race. But if only one of us would run, then the candidate would surely win."

Lacson, graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, served as PNP chief during the Estrada administration.
Lim, also a retired police general, served as mayor of Manila from 1992 to 1998. He could return to the Senate if he lost in his mayoralty bid.

Other aspirants for the post are Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna and Rep. Joey Hizon, who are both on their third and final term, and ousted representative Mark Jimenez.

Mayor Lito Atienza, who is on his last term, is grooming his son Ali to succeed him.
Hours after Lacson’s announcement, self-proclaimed former anti-narcotics agent Mary "Rosebud" Ong announced she will also run for Manila mayor.

"Ping Lacson made me to decide to run. I have been waiting for all these five years. What I have been waiting for all this time is to have a face-off with Ping Lacson. This is the right time," the 50-year-old Ong said.

Ong in 2001 accused Lacson of involvement in kidnapping-for-ransom and in the illegal drugs trade, among others. She has since been in the protective custody of the Intelligence Service of the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo.

Her allegations, which were investigated by the Senate, remain unproven.

Lacson said he would run as an independent because he has no political party.

He said he would welcome any opponent, including Ong.

"This is a democracy. Maski sino, maski 20 to 30 kaming tatakbo, it’s always the best man who will come out the winner," he said.

He said his program is based on "HOPE" (health, order, progress and education).

He said he has long wanted to return to the executive branch.

"After several restless days and sleepless nights trying to figure which is the better way to go in the coming May 2007 elections, not necessarily for myself, my friends or supporters, but for the service that I can render to our country, I finally arrived at the conclusion, at a decision, to run for mayor for the city of Manila," Lacson said.

"When it becomes extremely difficult to arrive at a conclusion and to arrive at a decision because of diverse choices because you are simply right in the middle of it, you turn to prayers. Wait for a sign and take it as God’s will. Believe it or not, this is what happened to me during the past few days," he added.
‘CLEAR SIGN’

Lacson said a "man of the cloth" had advised him to "go for it." He did not name his spiritual adviser.

"I was really at a loss on what position to run for so I let God do the deciding for me. I consulted with a man of the cloth whom I respect so highly and he told me to go for it. So it took that as God’s will because there was a clear sign on which path I should take. I don’t think anyone can stop me from pursuing this," he said.

Lacson said his decision to run for mayor would somehow "ease" the already crowded opposition Senate slate.

"My decision will give a chance to others to climb up to the survey ladder," he said.

Lacson has consistently been among the top notchers in surveys of would-be senatorial candidates.

Lacson belied talks he opted for the mayoralty post after he was reportedly dropped from the list of senatorial candidates who would be supported by President Joseph Estrada.

"Hindi masama ang loob ko na tinanggal ako. Maski halimbawa tumuloy ako (at) nag-re-election, di ako sasama sa listahan," Lacson said.

Lacson said there would be no sacred cow in his fight against corruption, and vowed to go after, among others, businessmen alleged to be big-time tax evaders.

In a survey conducted by Lacson’s camp, he is 10 points ahead of Lim, who in turn is eight points ahead of Jimenez.
Lacuna is seven points behind Jimenez. At the tail-end is Ali Atienza.

Lim, said Manilans now have more choices.

"Ang lahat ng kandidato ay may kanya-kanyang lakas, kahinaan at reputasyon ng kung ano ang nagawa at maaaring gawin. At the end of the day, it will still be up to the voters since we will all have to present ourselves to them, including our respective platforms," Lim said.

He said he was elated when Lacson described him as his closest rival.

He said he will choose his running mate soon.

Lim and Lacson’s colleagues could only wish them luck.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who once served as Olongapo mayor, said he could not fault the two senators. "Marami ka kasing magagawa bilang mayor," he said. – With Victor Reyes