Lacson files candidacy for president

Accompanied by 3,000 supporters and noisy cheerleaders, opposition senator Panfilo Lacson set the tone of the 2004 elections when he filed his candidacy for the president at Manila's Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday morning.

The former police chief angered other opposition leaders because he did not wait for them to mend the bitter division between him and another presidential aspirant, action star Fernando Poe Jr.

Mindless of the impact of his move, Lacson came with a big band as he entered the Comelec office. With drums and bugle, the band blurted out a Filipino rock music, which was specially composed for his campaign.

A fast dragon dance swished in the air as an array of Filipino-Chinese supporters in red and yellow T-shirts, came to cheer Lacson. His popularity among Chinese businessmen stemmed from his successful campaign (from 1998 to 2001) in fighting kidnap for ransom groups that preyed on members of rich Filipino-Chinese families.

Well funded, the red and yellow T-shirts were emblazoned with a smart campaign logo: PING (his nickname, and an acronym) for Ping in new governance.

The street leading to the Comelec's office was full of Lacson's posters with his favourite saying, "Stop corruption, don't be afraid."

Yellow and red balloons decorated the entire Plaza Roma where he gave a press conference before he proceeded to the Comelec office.

In a pre-registration speech, he reiterated his slogan to fight crime and corruption, adding he will also dismantle the country's centralised form of government.

Although his campaign centres on his advocacy for law and order, Lacson is facing cases ranging from kidnap for ransom of suspected Chinese drug lords, and summary execution of arrested bank robbers. He was also alleged to have the support of some drug lords, despite his successful drug busting record.

Lacson did not dwell on defending himself from detractors. Instead, he scheduled the announcing of his running mate and senatorial slate before January 5.

Many believe that the rift in the opposition could give President Gloria Arroyo an edge in next year's polls.

Lacson registered as an independent candidate of the Fight for Democratic Philippines (Laban or LDP), even if LDP President Edgardo Angara has filed a motion at the Comelec which virtually banned Lacson from filing his candidacy.

Angara and other LDP leaders are backing movie star Poe. Recently, Angara, as LDP president, forged a coalition with other opposition parties and formed the Coalition of United Filipinos, for Poe's endorsement as a presidential candidate.

Earlier, his supporters in the LDP endorsed Lacson as a presidential candidate.

Lacson would never slide down as vice presidential candidate of Poe even if the opposition has been trying to field only one presidential candidate, said Congressman Agapito Aquino.

Lacson is not giving up his LDP membership, said Aquino. Actor Poe is not an LDP member and has no experience of governance.

Lacson's filing of his candidacy should end all speculations and innuendos on his political plans in 2004, said Lito Banayo, his spokesman.

"It's a go for Sen. Lacson and there's no turning back. This is his irrevocable response to intrigue-peddlers who have been trying to derail his political plan," said Banayo.

Lacson's supporters are already in place nationwide and are ready to be mobilised for the campaign period, Banayo said.

Despite his persistence in running for the presidency, private polls have shown Lacson at the tail-end of all other presidential candidates.

Of the four presidential aspirants, Poe remained the most popular, followed by former education secretary Raul Roco, Arroyo, and Lacson.