Lacson willing to give up presidential ambition

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo Lacson indicated that he is ready to yield his personal ambition and allow the opposition to field a common candidate against the administration in the 2010 presidential elections.

Lacson though claimed a united opposition bet is still “highly improbable” at this time, owing to the fact that some opposition figures have already made spent millions to prepare their campaign for the next year’s elections.

“Some have already poured millions of pesos for their presidential ambitions that it would be very hard for them to back out,” Lacson said.

Lacson, who once served as provincial police director here, was in the province Friday on a nationwide campaign against corruption in government.

Lacson was among the opposition candidates who ran and lost to incumbent President Arroyo in the hotly contested 2004 presidential elections.

The late actor Fernando Poe Jr. was the lone opposition candidate who managed to put up a credible challenge against Mrs. Arroyo, but died during the pendency of his petition questioning the results of the presidential elections.

Lacson said he still considers himself an independent candidate after the Supreme Court had prevented him from running under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) under Sen. Edgardo Angara, who endorsed Poe as the lone opposition standard bearer.

Lacson said he is still open to talks with other opposition political parties for the 2010 elections.