Ex-VP Binay to join Lacson-Sotto senatorial line-up in Eleksyon 2022 —Sotto

Former Vice President and UNA President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay Sr. will join the Lacson-Sotto senatorial line-up for Eleksyon 2022, Senate President Vicente Sotto III disclosed Saturday.

In a Viber message to reporters, Sotto said they are holding a meeting with their “new” senatorial candidate on Saturday afternoon.

“Ongoing meeting with our new Senatorial Candidate! Sabi ko sa inyo big time eh!” he told reporters.

Sotto named Binay when pressed to disclose the newest addition to their senatorial slate.

Asked whether Binay has already confirmed running under their ticket, Sotto answered: “Yes. Confirmed with us. Senate lineup.”

In a statement, former Speaker and Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez confirmed his presence at the lunch meeting organized by Sotto and his running mate, Senator Panfilo Lacson.

"Partido Reporma Chairman Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez, NPC Chairman and Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Ping Lacson, UNA Founder and Former Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar Binay, Atty. Clint Aranas Secretary-General of UNA, former Rep. Monsour del Rosario, and former Rep. Arnel Ty, meetup over lunch to discuss matters of urgent importance pursuant to forming a united Philippines alliance," Alvarez said.

Last Thursday, the Senate President said the Lacson-Sotto tandem was inclined to build alliances with Alvarez’s Reporma and Aksyon Demokratiko.

On Wednesday evening, Sotto announced the first 10 possible senatorial candidates that may fill their line-up in the upcoming elections. 

Their line-up includes:

1. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito
2. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
3. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian

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4. Richard “Dick” Gordon
5. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II
6. Gregorio “Goyo” Larrazabal
7. Loren Legarda
8. Lucy Torres-Gomez
9. Joel Villanueva
10. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri

Sotto said he has yet to consult his party mates in the Nationalist People’s Coalition about his candidacy with Senator Panfilo Lacson and their proposed line-up. They will have an assembly on July 28.

Lacson on Tuesday confirmed that he and Sotto would run for President and Vice President respectively.

According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, 4% of Filipinos said they would vote for Lacson for President while 10% of Filipinos said they would vote for Sotto.

Sotto ranked third among the preferred vice-presidential candidates in the upcoming elections, following Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

The national elections will be held on May 9, 2022. —KG, GMA News