Lacson: I am running as independent candidate

Metro Manila, Philippines – Veteran lawmaker Ping Lacson who is seeking a Senate return said he is running as an independent candidate, despite being on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s senatorial slate.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Sept. 27, Lacson said he is a guest candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) - which is part of the administration’s five-party coalition ‘Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ (Alliance for the New Philippines).

Other parties in the alliance are Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), National Unity Party (NUP), Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas), and the Nacionalista Party (NP).

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“On Oct. 2, when I file, my COC will reflect that I am an independent candidate running under a coalition of five political parties – Lakas, NPC, NP, NUP and PFP, the President’s party. My CONA (Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance) will be issued by my adoptive party, the NPC,” Lacson said.

The seasoned lawmaker maintained he is proud to be part of the administration lineup.

“I have no doubt in my mind that should I win next year, President Marcos fully recognizes my consistent role as a fiscalizer guided only by our shared motto: “Ang tama ay ipaglaban; ang mali ay labanan (Defend what’s right. Fight against what’s wrong),” he said.

Lacson lost to Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections.

The former senator emerged as one of the top senatorial preferences in the latest pre-election survey by the OCTA Research group. Respondents were asked to select 12 candidates - if the elections scheduled for next year would be held during the survey period on Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report