Don't count me out
in Visayas, Lacson warns
Posted: 1:48 AM (Manila Time) | Mar. 31, 2004
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday that he should not be counted out of the presidential race in the Visayas just yet even after two other contenders claimed to have taken the vote-rich region.

The former police chief told newsmen during his campaign in Caloocan City that he would have a share of the votes in the Visayas.


Lacson's remark came after at least 100 politicians from the pro-administration coalition defected to Poe's camp on Monday.

Incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had also claimed that Visayas was her bailiwick.

But Lacson said he was not bothered.

"The effect is psychological because it connotes strength. But how committed they would be is another matter," he said.

Lacson added their focus is on wooing the barangay (village) leaders, "because they are the ones in the grassroots."

Lacson said he planned to do a second round in the provinces of Iloilo and Bacolod in the Visayas and two others in Southern Tagalog - Laguna and Quezon - to consolidate the support for him.

"We plan to do a second round of the big provinces especially those we know are our bailiwicks to consolidate," Lacson said.

By April 30, Lacson said they would have campaigned in all provinces.

The senator, who is running as an independent, said he was also banking on the votes of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

"I'll beat them all in Saudi," he said adding that he also received a warm reception among Filipinos in Hong Kong when he went there before the campaign period.

Iloilo Representative Rolex Suplico, one of Lacson's staunch supporters, said no presidential candidate could lay claim to the Visayas vote.

"Right now, anything goes," he told INQ7.net.

Suplico, who is running for reelection, also assured Lacson of the votes from his constituents.

"Iloilo is the education capital of Western Visayas. Lacson will win here because the intellectuals will go for him," he added.

About half the crowd at public markets in Blumentritt, Manila were open in their support for Poe but they were not hostile to Lacson when he visited them Tuesday.

Long before Lacson's visit, 49-year-old fish vendor Ester Legayada said vendors were organized to join the Fernando Poe Jr. for President Movement.

She said more than a thousand vendors along Old Antipolo Street had decided to vote for Poe.

"Kay FPJ (Poe's initials) kami kasi wala pang experience, malinis (We are for FPJ, because he has no experience, he is clean)," she said.

Despite this Legayada and the other vendors gamely shook hands with Lacson as he passed and flashed his trademark clenched fist hand sign.

The vendors also complained to Lacson about the rampant corruption (kotong) by authorities and the demolition of their stalls.

Under the sweltering heat, Lacson weaved through the alleys-turned-market along the streets of New Antipolo, Sulu, and Pedro Guevarra in Blumentritt, shaking hands with the people.

He said they would continue with this campaign strategy of going down to the people because it was working for them effectively.

Source:http://www.inq7.net/nat/2004/mar/31/nat_7-1.htm