CITING DIVINE SIGN, LACSON DECIDES TO RUN FOR MAYOR

After receiving what he described as a sign of Gods will, Sen. Panfilo Lacson announced Monday he will run for mayor of Manila in the May 2007 elections.

Lacson made the announcement at a media forum after conferring with a man of the cloth whom he said advised him to go for it.

When it becomes extremely difficult to arrive at a decision because of diverse choices, because youre simply right in the middle of it, I turn to prayer. I asked for a sign and take it as Gods will, he said.

A survey by the Philippine Social Research Center (PSRC) from Oct. 12 to 18 showed Lacson getting 27 percent of potential votes from a possible field of eight candidates.

Following him were Sen. Alfredo Lim with 19 percent; former Rep. Mark Jimenez with 16 percent; vice mayor Danilo Lacuna with eight percent; Rep. Joey Hizon (7 percent); Ali Atienza (7); former First Lady Imelda Marcos (7); and Rep. Rudy Bacani (4).

Under a scenario of only four candidates, Lacson got 37 percent followed by Lim (25 percent); Lacuna (18 percent) and Atienza (10 percent). With a three-candidate scenario, Lacson got 48 percent, followed by Lim with 29 percent and Lacuna with 23 percent.

Asked what he can offer the city, Lacson said he can offer a program based on Health, Order, Progress, Education (HOPE), and change the culture of local politics. He said he wants to change the culture of local politics from the existing dole-out culture to people empowerment.

Lacson also said he would welcome any opponent, including former Rep. Mark Jimenez and self-proclaimed agent Mary Ong, so long as they are qualified. This is a democracy. Maski sino, maski 20-30 kaming tatakbo its always the best man who will come out the winner (Even if there are 20 or 30 who will run, its always the best man wholl come out the winner), he said.

He belied speculations that his decision stemmed from his exclusion from the list of opposition senatorial candidates to be supported by former President Joseph Estrada. Besides, Lacson said that even if Estrada would not support his bid if he decided to run for senator, he would have run as an independent candidate.

Ito maluwag na maluwag sa kalooban ko. Whatever happens I wont blame myself. I wont blame anybody (Its my own decision. Whatever happens, I wont blame myself or anybody), he said.

Lacson said one of the reasons he decided to run for mayor was because he was disappointed in the tyranny of numbers in the Senate, and the highly tainted pork-barrel system.

He also said he is now working out his ticket, though he has not finalized the lineup as of now. He added he will run as an independent for the moment.

On the other hand, he said he believes he can beat the obstacles in his path because of the very clear sign he got. I dont think you can be stopped anymore from pursuing what you want, he said.

When asked who will likely be his closest opponent, he said it would be Sen. Alfredo Lim. He also belied speculations that he discussed his mayoralty plans with executive secretary Eduardo Ermita during a meeting at the Manila Hotel last week.