‘HINDI AKO ABNORMAL’ | Lito Lapid slams critics, describes toughest campaign of political career

May 17, 2019 , 08:41 PM

by: Maeanne Los Banos

Without an endorsement from the president nor a strong campaign machinery, actor-politician Lito Lapid is proud to have made the Magic 12 for his third term as senator.

Lapid admits this year’s campaign was the most difficult he had ever experienced. With only two staff members from his old office, he said he was able to visit almost all of the provinces during the 90-day campaign.

“May nag-eendorse sa kanila, eh. Siyempre presidente, anak ng presidente, si Sara (Duterte). E ako walang nag-eendorso sa ‘kin. Ayun lakad lang ako ng lakad mag-isa, namamalengke, nakikipag-kamay sa mga kababayan natin.
Nakikiusap ako ng personal,” Lapid said during an interview with News 5.

Lapid was quick to explain that even if he wasn’t able to get the endorsement of the President, he plans to ally himself with the Senate majority, a bloc that is expected to be supportive of the president’s legislative agenda.

Among the expected legislations in the 18th Congress, Lapid said he is set to support death penalty bill.

“Kung anong stand ni SP, Senate President (Tito) Sotto, doon din ako. Nakikita ko maganda ang stand niya lalo na sa mga drugs, karumal-dumal na krimen. Basta may limistasyon naman,” Lapid added.

SHOWBIZ EDGE

Lapid recalled that there were times when he got physically and mentally exhausted during the campaign. He said he even experienced apprehension about his chances in the elections. But the doubts would disappear whenever he is welcomed warmly by the public during motorcades and mini-rallies.

Lapid is popularly known for his lead roles in such Filipino movie classics as the “Leon Guerrero” series, and more recently as “Pinuno” in a popular teleserye. Lapid admits being in show business gave him an edge in the elections.

In an interview days after the elections, Lapid recounted: “Noong unang humabol ako bilang senador, noong national dati governor siguro, pagka-Leon Guerrero ko noong araw, artista. At ngayon pangalawa kong habol hindi na ko kilala ng mga millennial eh. Halos karamihan senior citizen na yung taga-hanga ko. Eh ngayon medyo nabuhay muli ang career ko pati mga bata kilala ako. Ang tawag sa akin Pinuno.”

Lapid frankly admitted that he will not hesitate to accept roles in teleseryes or movies, as long as the taping days do not interfere with his Senate work.

“Siyempre trabaho yan, diyan ako nabuhay. Diyan ko binuhay ang pamilya ko, syempre hindi ko tatanggihan. Extra trabaho din yan, extra kita ganyan,” Lapid said.

Lapid has served two terms in Senate, “graduating” in 2016 after fulfilling two terms in the Upper Chamber. He refutes the claims of critics that showbiz personalities do not perform well in the political arena.

“12 years din ako sa Senado. ‘Yan pa rin ang issue sa akin, hindi raw marunong. Eh siguro naman hindi ako iluluklok ng mga kababayan natin kung alam nila na hindi ako nakakaintindi at saka hindi naman ako abnormal,” Lapid said.

Before his two terms in the Senate, Lapid served for three terms as Governor of Pampanga from 1995-2004 and as Vice-Governor from 1992-1995.

“Vice governor pa lang ako, artista pa lang ako, sinasabi ko na high school gradutate lang ako. Hindi ako matalas mag-English, wala akong naintindihan pero napag-aaralan,” Lapid said.

Lapid also admits he is hurt by those who belittle politicians coming from the showbiz community: “Pagdating ng eleksyon puro artista ginagamit. Kapag tapos na ang eleksyon, hindi na pinapansin ‘yung artista, pag napakinabangan na. Kapag may artistang naupo, binabatikos pa. Eh syempre kami naman eh nasasaktan naman kami dahil ba sa hindi kami nakapag-aral ng college kamukha ko,” Lapid laments.

SENATE PLANS

During his two-term stint at the Senate, Lapid boasts of sponsoring the free legal assistance legislation or “Lapid law.” In his incoming term, he plans to focus on pushing for better medical services.

“Ngayon sa free docor naman ang aayusin natin, mga dalubhasa dapat libre. Mapag-uusapan naman yan,” Lapid explained.

Lapid also plans to join the so-called “macho bloc” in the Senate composed of Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Ping Lacson, Senator Grace Poe and Senator Manny Pacquiao. Lapid is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition where Sotto is a senior adviser.

Lapid admits he needs to refresh his knowledge and experience in Senate work after being inactive in politics for the last three years:”Siyempre maninibago ka diyan dahil syempre nabakante ka. May mga bago kang kasama dyan. Kakapain mo muna lahat kung mababait ba sila o suplado o mabait sila lahat.”

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