Gordon, Lacson bare discussion of Eleksyon 2022 plans with Robredo

Senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday bared that there were discussions with Vice President Leni Robredo in connection with the upcoming 2022 national and local elections.

“I don’t know if I’ll be allowed by the Vice President but we had a chat last week and I don’t want to say anything about what we talked about,” Gordon said in an ANC interview.

Asked if he is pushing for a partnership with Robredo, Gordon said: “Yes, just for transparency’s sake because lalabas at lalabas din ‘yan pero ‘di namin pinag-usapan kung sino ang kandidato (the news will come out eventually but we have not talked about who will be the candidate).”

To recall, Gordon previously expressed his intent to run for president in the upcoming elections. 

Meanwhile, Robredo said she is looking at the “viability” of her possible presidential run.

No categorical answer

In the same interview, Gordon refused to give a categorical answer when asked if he is willing to run for vice president together with Robredo.

“I won’t say that. I never say that because I know where I am going and I thinks she knows where she is going as well,” he said.

“She is a very nice lady and I respect her and that is what we need respectable people who will run the country,” he added.

Sotto-Lacson and LP meeting

Lacson said he and Senate President Vicente Sotto III met with Robredo and former senator Bam Aquino.

“Yes, nag-upo kami—kasama ko rin si Senate President—with Vice President Leni. At that time, kasama niya si [former] Senator Bam Aquino,” Lacson said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay virtual forum Wednesday.

(We sat down in a meeting with Vice President Leni. I am with the Senate president. At that time, she was with former Senator Bam Aquino.)

Lacson refused to divulge details of the meeting.

“Di ko lang ma-divulge 'yung pinag-usapan dahil wala naman akong authority sa kanya para i-share ‘yung aming pinag-usapan. Pero nag-usap na kami,” he said.

(I can’t divulge the details of the meeting because I have no authority coming from her to share our discussions but what I can say is we have already talked.)

Sought for comment, Robredo's spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, said the meetings were held last week.

"My understanding is that these meetings were held last week. I can't speak about the specifics, but this is all part of the VP's commitment to forge the broadest possible unity among groups and individuals seeking change in 2022," Gutierrez said in a press statement.

LP president and Senator Francis Pangilinan earlier said they are making initiatives to reach out to Lacson, Senators Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for next year’s elections.

He also said that the opposition party seeks to bring together the “broadest unity possible” which he said is “critical” in order to build a slate that will go against the administration in the upcoming polls.

Outside influence?

On the other hand, Gordon said he is “scared” of the possibility that China and other countries will have an “influence” in the 2022 polls.

“That’s really what I am scared of. I’ve already seen remarks that there are trolls in China and that happened in the last elections,” he said.

“This is a world that has no more borders. The defenses are down. Russia has all kinds of stuff during the electorate in America. Same thing with China and the Americans, vice versa. And I think we should be prepared for that,” he added.

It was former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario who first said that China interfered in the 2016 national and local elections, citing a “highly trustworthy” source.

Malacañang has since dismissed Del Rosario’s claim, saying it was “kalokohan” or nonsense. — RSJ/AOL, GMA News