Ramon Ang declined to run for president in 2022, Sotto says

San Miguel president Ramon Ang has declined to run for president in the 2022 elections, saying it would be a "demotion" for him, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

In an interview with reporters on Monday, Sotto said the National People's Coalition (NPC) has begun informally talking to their members about possibly running for the 2022 elections as early as October last year.

Sotto is the highest elected member of the NPC.

"Siyempre meron kaming mga informal talks na mga napupusuan namin na sana si ganito ay maisip tumakbo," he said.

[Of course there are informal talks on who we want to field for the elections.]

"Pero nung nag-uumpisa na naming kausapin, ayaw naman e. So we have abandoned that idea. Formally, wala pa. Personal level, kwentuhan, meron," he added.

[But when we started talking to them, they would decline. So we have abandoned that idea. Formally, there are non. But on a personal level, informal talks, there are.]

Sotto, nevertheless, candidly admitted that Ang was among those who were asked to run but declined.

"Sabi sa akin it’s a demotion," he said, quoting Ang.

[It was a demotion, he said.]

Sotto also confirmed that Ang was offered to run for President.

"Sabi ko maraming nag-iisip ah. Yung klase ng thinking mo, klase ng background mo, klase ng galing ng management mo. Ikaw ang magaling na pwedeng tumakbong presidente," he recounted his talk with Ang.

[There are many people thinking about it. Your kind of thinking, your background, your excellence in management. You are competent to run for the presidency.]

Sotto believes that Ang would never consider running for president anymore even as they further convince him.

"No na yun kapag sabi ng demotion. Palagay ko final na," he added.

[That's already a no when he said demotion. I think it's already final.]

Sotto-Lacson tandem?

For his part, Sotto said he does not have any plans yet when it comes to the 2022 elections, although he confirmed that there are some individuals who are convincing him and Senator Panfilo Lacson to run as a tandem.

"May mga kumukumbinsi sa kanya, may mga kumukumbinsi sa akin. E hindi pa kami nakukumbinsi," he said.

[There are some people who are trying to convince him, there are others who are trying to convince me. But we have not been convinced yet.]

Despite this, Sotto said he would rather focus for now on efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Mahirap nga kami makumbinsi at this point kasi matindi ang pandemic. Doon muna tayo sa trabaho," he said.

[It's difficult for us to be convinced at this point because the pandemic is intense. Let's just work for now.] — BM, GMA News