NPC fielding Lacson as Eleksyon 2022 presidential bet a possibility, Sotto says

There is a possibility that Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will be fielded as presidential candidate of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Senate President and NPC chairman Vicente Sotto III said Monday.

During a Zoom interview, Sotto was asked if the NPC will automatically adopt Lacson as its presidential candidate if the latter decides to seek the presidency.

"That is a possibility but I cannot speak for my entire party at this point when it comes to a presidential candidate. I can get the support of the majority of them but I cannot dictate on my part whom they should support," Sotto said.

He said the party would still discuss the matter.

Sotto has said he will run for vice president if Lacson will throw his hat in the race for the presidency and that they will be running mates.

Lacson, on the other hand, earlier said he is only contemplating between running for president or retiring from politics

Pacquiao

In the same Zoom interview, Sotto was asked if the NPC is willing to adopt Senator Manny Pacquiao following issues within the PDP-Laban.

Pacquiao sits as acting president of PDP-Laban.

In response, Sotto said anything is possible but he clarified that he has no plan to meddle with the issues within the ruling party. Sotto also mentioned that Pacquiao still has a lot of supporters from PDP-Laban.

"I suppose based on my conversation with some other political friends from the PDP-Laban, a big majority of the PDP-Laban members are supportive of Sen. Pacquiao," Sotto said.

Asked if the NPC will welcome Pacquiao if he decides to join Sotto's party, the Senate president said: "We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. Of course, he will be welcomed to the NPC if he joins the NPC." — RSJ, GMA News