Lacson: Most soldiers will vote for me

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson declared yesterday he has an edge over President Arroyo in terms of support from the military.

"I am confident that I had the 100 percent support of my fellow cavaliers. Blood is thicker than water as compared to the other one who is only adopted," Lacson said, apparently referring to Mrs. Arroyo who was adopted as honorary member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’78.

Politics reared its ugly head as two presidential candidates made their presence known during the 99th homecoming of PMA graduates here yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 elections, attended the event as the traditional guest of honor.

On the other hand, Lacson, a member of PMA Class ’71, strongly declared that the crowd supports his presidential bid.

It was the first time for Lacson to set foot again at the PMA after 33 years. "I don’t have the opportunity then," Lacson later told reporters.

Lacson had flown on a chartered plane straight from his campaign sortie in Davao City to attend the gathering.

"But today I am home. Gusto ko nga halikan ang lupa dito (in fact, I would also like to kiss the ground here). It’s nice to be back after 33 years. Here we are again to be with our fellow alumni and to celebrate this momentous occasion," he said.

Along the way, one can see streamers and posters of declaration of support for Lacson.

Even as Lacson vowed to set aside politics for the meantime in respect to the gathering, his supporters went on to pass around campaign leaflets.

"Opportunity knocks but once. It may not come again. Ping Lacson is the first full-blooded PEEMAYER who has the education, discipline and political will necessary to get the country out of the quagmire," said a typewritten note signed by one Mar Santiago of PMA Class ‘67.

PMA Superintendent Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, however, failed to mention Lacson among the graduates who graced the affair.

Lacson disregarded the incident saying it was an "honest omission" on Adan’s part.

"I think I’m very well received so that’s all that matters to me. Yung kay General Adan, I would like to believe it was an honest omission. Hindi niya sinasadya," he said.

Lacson went on to declare the PMA Borromeo Field as "a holy ground" where even he and President Arroyo, as an adopted PMAer, are in now "equal footing" and restrained in engaging in partisan politics.

He went on to shake hands to his erstwhile buddies, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco and retired police general Dictador Alqueza "in the spirit of camaraderie and cavaliership."

Wycoco was prominent in pushing the case against Lacson while he in turn, implicated Alqueza to several criminal activities.

Wycoco said his meeting and shaking hands with Lacson was purely civil and professional. "I told him good luck on his presidential bid and happy Valentines," he said.

Lacson also took the occasion to speak out his mind before journalists interviewing him over current issues.

Lacson went on to give unsolicited advice to actor Fernando Poe Jr., his rival candidate in the opposition ranks, to abide by whatever the decision the Supreme Court hands down over his disqualification case.

"There is such a thing as rule of law, when the highest court of the land speaks and I think it is incumbent upon us, rightly or wrongly, whether the decision is right or wrong, (that) we should abide. It happened to me and I complied with the decision of the SC," Lacson said, referring to last year’s ruling of the Supreme Court ordering a retrial of Kuratong Baleleng rub out case before the lower courts.

The President, for her part, conferred awards on PMA graduates who have made names for themselves in various fields.

Mrs. Arroyo, trooped to the line of cadets together with former President Fidel Ramos, a US West Point graduate.

Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who was the guest speaker, swore in the newly-elected members of the PMA Alumni Association Inc. board of directors.

In his speech, Ermita reminded PMA graduates to stand behind the government and urged them to vote wisely.

"As the election nears, our job in the Armed Forces is to safeguard the electoral process and to ensure the stability of our country," he said.

Ermita added "it is the duty of the military to defend and keep this republic together."