Lacson: 'Very slim' chance for opposition to have one presidential bet in Eleksyon 2022

With the recent announcements of presidential aspirants, Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said there is just a “very slim chance” for the opposition to have one presidential candidate in Eleksyon 2022.

Lacson, a presidential aspirant himself, was reacting to Vice President Leni Robredo’s statement expressing hope that there would still be a united opposition despite the declaration of presidential bids by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

“It’s possible but very slim yung chance na kung meron mang opening yung door, I think napakasikip na yung daraanan na pinto pagdating dito. Because you know, she’s been talking to—sabi niya—Mayor Isko, Senator Manny pero nag-announce na rin yung dalawa e,” Lacson said in an interview on ANC.

(It’s possible but it is a very slim chance and if the door has the opening, I think it would be narrow. Because you know, she’s been talking to Mayor Isko and Senator Manny, as she said, but both of them have already announced their bids.)

“So I don’t know where, I cannot see the possibility na matutuloy pa yung one unity ticket ng opposition. Medyo malabo,” he added.

(So I don’t know where, I cannot see the possibility that the unity ticket of the opposition will push through. That’s kind of impossible.)

COC filing

In the same interview, Lacson said he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, would file their certificates of candidacies on October 6.

“We’re filing on October 6. We have the exact time to file because it is vice presidential candidate or Senate President Sotto who decides on this matter because siya 'yung medyo may paniniwala doon sa mga consultations (he is following our consultations),” he said.

“Ako, I always respect pagdating sa mga (his decisions when it comes to) hunches or whatever basis for timing the launch event and then the filing, si Tito Sen na 'yun (I leave the decision to him),” he added.

Sotto also confirmed the date of the filing of their COCs in a Viber message to reporters.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he will wait for the last day of substitution before assessing who the opposition candidates are.

“Let’s wait for October 8. The last day of filing and even November 15, the last day for substitution before we can really conclude how many formally or official candidates for President and Vice President,” he said.

“So I’d rather defer comment on who would compose the so-called opposition or non-administration candidates,” he added.

Last September 8, Lacson and Sotto officially announced their candidacies for Eleksyon 2022.

Moreno and Pacquiao have also announced their presidential bids last week.

Robredo, on the other hand, said she will decide before October 8.

Senate bids

Meanwhile, Lacson bared there are ongoing talks with TV personality Raffy Tulfo and former Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol on their possible senatorial run in Eleksyon 2022.

“We’re talking to Raffy Tulfo. We talked already but ‘yun nga may mga nire-resolve pang ibang mga minor issue, mga concerns niya. And si Sec. Manny Piñol, his intention to also run for the Senate under our ticket,” Lacson said.

(We’re talking to Raffy Tulfo. We talked already, but he has to resolve some minor issues and concerns. Sec. Manny Piñol also expressed his intention to run for the Senate under our ticket.)

Lacson also confirmed that Leyte Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez will no longer join their senatorial ticket for Eleksyon 2022. Torres-Gomez will run for mayor in Ormoc City.

So far, the members of the Sotto's party Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) who will be endorsed by their tandem are:

• Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero;
• Antique Representative Loren Legarda; and
• former senator Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, an NPC member who previously expressed intent to run for Vice President, has yet to be included in their senatorial line-up, Lacson said.

“‘Yung kay Sen. Sherwin, naguguluhan pa si Senate President kung ano talaga ang desisyon niya (The Senate President is still confused with Senator Sherwin’s plans),” he said.

The other candidates that they might endorse are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz"Zubiri and Senator Joel Villanueva.

“By and large, parang almost firmed up na yung aming slate by September 30 (By and large, our slate is almost firmed up by September 30),” Lacson said.

“Nothing will prevent them and we will not prevent them from being adopted by other political parties, if they so desire,” he added.

On the other hand, Lacson said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto initially asked them to include Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto in their senatorial slate.

“We said, ‘yes’ [to Recto]. A few days after, sabi niya, 'wag na muna kasi hindi pa sure. So and now the latest, silang mag-asawa have thrown their support kay Mayor Isko [Moreno], so let’s leave it at that,” Lacson said.

(We said ‘yes.’ A few days after, he told us that they are not sure yet. And now the latest, they have thrown their support behind Mayor Isko. So let’s leave it at that.) —AOL/KG, GMA News