LACSON HONORED OVER ENDORSEMENT,
READY FOR RESPONSIBILITY

Honored over the support, and even more ready for the responsibility it carries.

On this note, re-electionist Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson welcomed the endorsement for him and three other Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates from the charismatic "Jesus Is Lord" Movement of Bro. Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva.

"There is a great positive impact with this endorsement. But more than this I am honored to be chosen as one of those to be given the great responsibility accompanying it. Mind you, this is a shared responsibility. It's our responsibility to abide by a covenant and it's their responsibility to watch over us," Lacson said.

Lacson also said it was providential that he is now getting the support of Villanueva, against whom he ran for president in 2004. He said that despite their rivalry three years ago, he and Villanueva share a common bond, particularly against corruption.

"As you can see, I am sitting side by side with Bro. Eddie. Three years ago, we were running against each other in the presidential campaign. But I guess we have this shared principle. So principle transcends politics and everything else," Lacson said.

On the other hand, Lacson said he will push for the four principles the JIL is promoting: God before others; upliftment of the poor and repressed; fighting corruption in government; and fulfilling responsibilities under their constitutional mandate.

Lacson noted that even in the 13th Congress, he and Bro. Eddie's son, CIBAC Rep. Joel Villanueva, filed bills against red tape. He said he expects the bills to become law after both houses of Congress act on them upon resumption of session in June.

The proposed measure aims to cut down from 10 to five the number of days for processing transactions. It also aims to punish heads of departments who allow applications to lapse.

"Pagbalik siguro namin sa June 4, batas na iyan. Yun ay malaking tulong sa ating mga kababayan na nag-a-apply ng mga permit. Hindi na sila mahihirapan na sa bawa't mesa may padulas (When we resume session on June 4, I expect it to be passed into law. It will greatly help our people applying for permits. They won't have to resort to paying bribes)," Lacson said.

Lacson said he underwent an intense grilling by the JIL, including going to Bulacan from Bataan, but managed to answer the questions truthfully. He described his "ordeal" as being "grilled to the bone."

"While I underwent that treatment I am still very thankful and am indeed honored for being one of the endorsees," he said.

Aside from Lacson, the GO candidates who also got the JIL's nod included Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., and Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero.

The four met the traits that the JIL found essential in a senator, including God-fearing, competent, integrity, courage, patriotism and living a principled existence.