Lacson still ‘processing’ Eleksyon 2022 plans

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he still doesn't have his final decision for his plans in the 2022 national elections.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said he will run for vice president in the coming polls if Lacson will be his running mate as president.

"As for my decision, and this much I told him — I’m still processing and as I have already stated repeatedly, pag-aaralan muna naming dalawa ang mga mabibigat na problema ng bansa at mga possible solutions," Lacson said in a message to GMA News Online.

(We will study first the huge problems of this country and its possible solutions.)

At present, Lacson said he and Sotto are still consulting with economic experts and other individuals who are "knowledgeable about the other facets of governance that have to do with foreign policy, national security, etc."

"So if and when we decide, we know all the issues and how to deal with the same," the senator said.

"The problems of this country cannot be solved by Tiktok, photo-ops and lip service. It is more than serious business," he added.

Lacson bared that Sotto had talked to him in February or March and asked him to reconsider his decision of leaving public service even though he is still eligible to run for another term in the Senate.

Sotto has said he may announce his decision for the elections after President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

According to Lacson, Sotto told him that he was really serious in running for vice presidency as he wanted to solve the persistent problem of illegal drugs as his final legacy.

"Gusto niyang pagtulungan namin kasi pareho naming pangunahing advocacy ang peace and order at paglaban sa korapsyon," Lacson said.

(He wants us to work together and solve the problem of illegal drugs as our main advocacies include maintaining peace and order and fighting corruption.)

"Totoo ring kabisado niya ako sa pagka-seryoso na labanan ang korapsyon. Hindi minsan kaming tumutol na dalawa, even nagpasauli ng lobby money para sa pagpasa ng prangkisa na pinadala ng isang congressman sa Senate office niya," he added.

(He knows that I'm serious in fighting corruption. We always agree on each other, including an instance when a lobby money, sent to his office, was returned to a congressman who sent it for approval of a certain franchise.) — RSJ, GMA News