LACSON: GLORIA SHOULD CAMPAIGN
TO CLEAR UNRESOLVED ISSUES

As he kicked off his reelection bid Monday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson challenged President Arroyo Tuesday to campaign full time for her senatorial bets, if only to answer the unresolved issues still hounding her administration.

Lacson said the May 14 elections will be a referendum of Mrs. Arroyo's administration, and it is best that she campaigns with her candidates so the people will at least get a chance to ask her and her side on the controversies that have hounded her administration.

"This campaign is not about Erap (former President Joseph Estrada) against Gloria. It's all about the people of the Philippines against the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The people are waiting for them to explain the issues that were suppressed during the last two impeachments," he said.

He said that while Malacañang insists the issues are old hat, the fact remains that they are not resolved. "The people are waiting for answers. They want the administration to explain the questions that remained unanswered during the impeachment process."

"If they don't want to answer, that's up to them but we will keep asking those questions," he added.

Lacson joined senatorial candidates of the opposition coalition in going around Metro Manila to kick off the campaign period. The caravan passed through Manila's Tondo, Sampaloc, Quiapo and Ermita areas, and at the boundary of Manila and Pasay Cities.

During the sortie, Lacson shook hands with several well-wishers who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of him. Many of his well-wishers raised clenched fists upon seeing him, reminiscent of the 2004 presidential campaign.

Among the bets present at the sortie were House minority leader Francis Escudero, and reelectionist John Osmea. Even detained Navy Lt. S.G. Antonio Trillanes IV was represented in the sortie.