Tito Sotto bids goodbye to Eat Bulaga, co-hosts

Following his decision to rejoin politics, former senator Vicente Sotto III has bidden goodbye to Eat Bulaga! during the show's Saturday program. Accompanied by his wife Helen Gamboa, daughter Ciara and the Eat Bulaga! family, Sotto told the public: "Kay Vic at kay Joey, sa lahat po dito na mga taga Eat Bulaga! at kayo pong lahat, ang Tito na nakasama ninyo sa halos 28 taon ng tanghalian ng inyong buhay, yan din po ang maglilingkod sa inyo." He added: "Ang Tito noon at Tito ngayon, siya rin ang inyong tito sa darating pang panahon" Sotto, 48, served two terms in the Senate, from 1992 to 2004. He maintained Thursday that he will remain with the political opposition even if his party forms an alliance with the administration. Sotto, who is set to file his certificate of candidacy this weekend, stressed he will keep an "oppositionist stance" on several issues, particularly against Charter change. "Our moves have been transparent. We will never merge with the administration. When we file our certificates of candidacy probably this Sunday, I'll make it clear I will file as a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition," Sotto told dzXL radio in Filipino. Late last month, Sotto and fellow former senator Teresa Aquino-Oreta formally bolted the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and joined the NPC, which is headed by businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco. Sotto said that while the NPC had a working alliance with the ruling Lakas party, its members do not necessarily toe the administration line. "If the NPC enters into a coalition with the UNO (United Opposition) or the administration or any other political party, I won't file as a member of that coalition. I'll still file as a member of my own party," he said. Sotto added that when he joined the NPC, he made it clear he should be "allowed to maintain my opposition stance on certain issues." Sotto said he has "uncompromising" stances on issues such as Charter change and population control. The television personality and former sportsman likewise belied claims by critics that he and Oreta had switched over to the administration with their joining the NPC. Incidentally, House Minority Leader Francis Escudero is also an NPC member. Escudero had filed his candidacy under the NPC banner although he is included in the senatorial slate of UNO. - GMANews.TV