FILIPINOS run the risk of losing more than what they bargained for, if they continue to treat our elections like an ordinary gamble, where they keep on mindlessly betting on someone who they think is most likely to win instead of voting for the most qualified candidate who can make everybody win.

Former party-list representative Ashley ‘Ace’ Acedillo, the spokesman for presidential candidate Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, issued this reminder to the electorate on Friday (April 29), especially those who remain undecided on who they will vote for as the next leader of our nation come Election Day.

“Huwag po tayong mag-isip na para po tayong tayang sugarol na dapat tumaya lang tayo doon sa siguradong mananalo. Ang pagboto po natin ay hindi po gaya ng taya sa sugal. Ang pagboto po natin ay naaayon dapat sa ating prinsipyo,” said Acedillo in an interview over DZRH online radio.

Acedillo noted that even in low stakes games, the perceived winner still has a high probability of losing the race despite building seemingly insurmountable leads, thus people should avoid making impulsive decisions, especially during elections where their lives and future are at stake.

“Sinasabi natin hindi masasayang ang boto ng taumbayan sa dalawang pinaka-kwalipikado at sa dalawang pinaka-eksperyensyado at ‘di hamak na may integridad na dalawang lider natin,” he said, referring to Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III.

“To be quite fair and to be quite frank, kung titingnan po talaga natin, kung if we’re only going to look at their qualifications experience-wise, integrity-wise and track record-wise, wala na talagang tatalo dito sa tandem ng Lacson-Sotto no one beats the Lacson-Sotto tandem,” Acedillo added.

Acedillo cited, as example, the ‘leadership by example’ policy enforced by Lacson when he was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001. It reformed the entire police organization, which is one of the toughest agencies to transform.

“The PNP enjoyed its highest approval rating ‘nung kanyang in-address when Lacson addressed ‘yung the issue about inept, corrupt, and undisciplined policemen,” the erstwhile party-list representative reminded Filipinos.

Acedillo also pushed back against the continuing propaganda of Lacson’s opponents and their supporters that the 2022 race for the presidency is now only down to two contenders, saying it is totally different from the warm public reception they are still getting on the ground.

“Pilit po nating nilalabanan ‘yang narrative na ‘yan dahil that is not what the ground feedback is telling us. Marami pong sumusuporta pa rin. Dati nga sabi tahimik lamang sila, but now, they have made it a point to be heard, to be seen and to be felt,” according to Lacson’s spokesman.

“So, binabasag po natin ‘yung narrative po na ‘yan. Hindi lamang po sa dadalawang kandidato ang eleksyong ito. May iba pa pong alternatibong kandidato na nandiyan po at mas kwalipikado nang ‘di hamak,” Acedillo added.

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