The ideal tandem: Lacson-Duterte in 2016

Now is the opportune time for a Lacson to be the leader of our country. We had that chance before: A lot of people expected the late mayor Arsenio Lacson of Manila to become president before he passed away.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson has a good track record of service in government. He is anticorruption; he exposed anomalies during the Arroyo regime. He is a disciplinarian, which he showed when he was chief of the Philippine National Police.

On the other hand, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is anticrime. This he has shown in the Davao City of today. Peace and order is necessary for foreign investments to come in and thereby improve further the economy of our nation.

With due respect, Sen. Grace Poe is not yet ripe for higher office. She is doing very well in the Senate, so let her finish her term there. The same with Sen. Chiz Escudero; he is still needed in the Senate for his wisdom and talent. They will have their turn in 2022.

A Lacson-Duterte tandem is great as this will provide regional representation. Lacson is from Cavite in Luzon, while Duterte was born in Leyte in the Visayas and raised in Davao in Mindanao. Duterte can well be the interior secretary having been mayor for many terms.

Ping-Rod is an ideal combination for the Philippines to prosper even more. Their advocacy for federalism will augur well for local government units as they will have more autonomy. Perhaps the Nationalist People’s Coalition, National Unity Party and other sectors can adopt and support a Lacson-Duterte team for the benefit of the Philippines. A Lacson-Duterte tandem is better than what the administration (Liberal Party) or opposition (United Nationalist Alliance) can come up with.

—ANTONIO DC JOSE, Mandaluyong City