Isko eyes Cabinet post for Lacson if elected

(UPDATE) AKSYON Demokratiko standard-bearer and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he is willing to give a Cabinet post to fellow presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson whom he described as “an asset of the country.”

“You know one of the best things really is fighting corruption. As much as the president of the country will have economic problems because I have already committed to the people that the first two years [of my administration] I will focus on life and livelihood. And I think with all the problems of our country, I need the same qualities as Sen. Ping Lacson to address corruption and discipline in the government,” Domagoso told reporters recently.

Lacson, whose term as senator ends on June 30, is running for president under the Reporma party. He has repeatedly said that he will retire from politics if he loses the presidential race.

“Sen. Ping Lacson is an asset to the country. That, I guarantee. He has a particular set of skills that are useful to suppress a problem in our community. And I do believe, he is qualified for that. And I will cross the bridge when I get there because I don’t know if I will be lucky. Maybe he will win or the others will,” Domagoso said.

When asked if he is thinking of appointing Lacson as “anti-corruption czar,” he said, “theoretically, that’s going to happen.”

“If we get lucky and win with the help of the people, I’ll do that. I’ll make an offer. But for the meantime, I don’t want to underestimate my competitors because all presidential candidates or candidates for that matter, have a chance to win,” Domagoso said.

Duterte still undecided

President Duterte has yet to decide who to endorse for president, his spokesman said.

Acting Palace spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles reiterated the President’s previous pronouncement that he is not supporting any presidential candidate “unless there is a compelling reason” for him to do so.

“Well, balikan natin ‘no iyong sinabi ni Pangulo (Let’s recall what the President said) in his previous ‘Talk to the People’ address and I quote: ‘At this time, I am saying that I am not supporting anybody unless there is a compelling reason really for me to change my mind and decide to support a candidate.’ So, so far, ganoon pa rin po ang stand ni Pangulo (that is still the stand of the President),” Nograles said during a virtual press briefing.

The Palace official also said that Duterte would not be physically joining his endorsed senatorial candidates in their campaigns for this year’s elections as it is not on his calendar.

Nograles said Duterte is currently “OK,” and he is “busy with work.”

“Okey naman si Pangulo (The President is OK), busy with work. But with regard to physically joining mga senatorial candidates ay wala pong (the Senate candidates, there are no) official entries in his official calendar to that effect,” he said.

Duterte has so far supported the Senate bids of former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, former senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Greco Belgica.