Sotto undecided if he will run for higher office in 2022

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said he has yet to make up his mind whether or not he will seek a higher seat in government in the 2022 elections.

"We say in Tagalog, mahirap magsalita ng tapos, but my priority, my first option is to retire," Sotto said in an interview on ANC.

He said he spent nearly 30 years in government service, starting as a vice mayor in 1988 and entering the Senate in 1992.

"It’s not really that easy to think about coming up with or running for a higher office. And then I have my political party to reckon with. We are somehow a bit crippled because of the demise of Ambassador Danding Cojuangco," Sotto said.

Sotto, 71, is currently the highest elected member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) which was founded by Cojuangco.

The Senate leader previously said the political party would "struggle" to remain strong and steady after "kingmaker" Conjuangco's death last month.

"We have to meet, we plan to meet after 40 days and see the plans of the party. I do not have any personal intentions of running for higher office at the moment," Sotto said.

"We would probably help with just being a supporter. Depende, tingnan natin, I cannot say yes, I cannot say no at this point," he added. —LDF, GMA News