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After being formally endorsed by the United Opposition as its presidential candidate next year, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson began his campaign pitch, though perhaps, a bit too early. He promised to deliver “political will through a presidency without politics, a leadership without fear and compromise.”

Lacson was endorsed by the United Opposition composed of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, a faction of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and Reporma, during a gathering at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

LDP’s Butz Aquino had earlier been warned, however, by Sen. Edgardo Angara, the party chief, that the decision to attend the pro-Lacson event was his alone, and he could not commit the entire party to it.

In a statement, the United Opposition said Lacson possesses the qualities of a leader “who will observe the rule of law, maintain peace and order, fight corruption, help the poor, among others, that could save our ‘dying’ country.”

Lacson said that if elected, he would effect “changes” in the government by putting an end to the corruption, which he said “rules the land.”

“Now, we are a nation where no one is following the law, that is because even our leaders do not know how to respect it,” he said, adding that this kind of practice needs to be stopped for the people have suffered too much.

“We in the opposition are called upon by the sovereign people to help them restore the rule of the law. The rule of order. The rule of decency. The rule of equal opportunity. For far too long have these been denied to our people,” Lacson said.

When asked what he thought was wrong with the Philippines, he replied: “the government.”

“Government is what is wrong with our country,” he said. “And if we are to effect any meaningful change in the society, in the economy, we have to begin by solving the problem of government.”

He added, “We will not belabor the past, even if the problems we inherit may seem insurmountable. The road ahead will certainly be tough, but we will provide a leadership that is tougher than tough.”

San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito, son of deposed President Estrada, described Lacson as a “good choice”.

Former Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile expressed confidence that “it will be an opposition year next year.”

The occasion was attended by former senator Kit Tatad, Reps. Butz Aquino, Ronaldo Zamora, Gilbert Remulla, Didagen Dilangalen, Carlos Padilla, Governors Ayong Maliksi, Ning Ning Lazaro, among others.

An association within the National Police, meanwhile, accused Lacson of having used the organization as a launching pad for his political career.

The association scored the Lacson camp’s claim that “corrupt cops, kidnap for ransom and carnapping were eradicated” during his incumbency as PNP chief.

“The truth is, these crimes are still present and are major causes of the country’s economic woes,” said the association, which described Lacson’s “political advertisements” as “shallow, myopic and insincere.”

The association said that “it is immodest of [Lacson] to claim sole credit for the crimes solved during his time since the results are joint efforts of different PNP units and other law enforcement agencies.”