Lacson, Sotto file COCs to formalize presidential, VP bids in Eleksyon 2022

Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday filed their certificates of candidacy for president and vice president, respectively, in Eleksyon 2022.

The lawmakers filed their COCs past 11 a.m. at the Harbor Garden Tent at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.

Lacson will run under Demokratikong Reporma Party (Reporma), which installed him as their chairman in July.

Meanwhile, Sotto will run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). He sits as the chairman of the NPC.

Facing the media after their filing, Lacson vowed to regain the trust of the public to the government. He said he is pushing for a disciplined bureaucracy, proper spending of the national budget, and development of rural areas.

“Panahon na upang maipanumbalik ang dignidad at respeto sa sarili ng bawat Pilipino sa loob at labas ng ating bansa,” Lacson said.

(It is time to bring back the dignity and respect of every Filipino inside and outside our country.)

Meanwhile, Sotto said they will “execute well” if given a chance to hold the reins of the Executive department.

“We know the ills, we know the solution. Balance the budget, budget reform, bring the money to the people and enhance the fight against illegal drugs by more emphasis on demand reduction strategy,” he said.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem is banking on their movements at the grassroot levels, saying the organization and recruitment in the communities are already in “full swing.”

On the other hand, Sotto confirmed that they were not able to come into an agreement with Vice President Leni Robredo with regard to a united opposition in next year's elections.

United opposition

“I think you would just have to take the statement of Senator [Franklin] Drilon na walang napagkasunduan [that we have not agreed on anything]. The ideas that were brought out during those talks were the same ideas actually that Sen. Lacson proposed two or three months ago which was rejected. So that’s it,” he said.

Sotto answered in the affirmative when asked if there is no chance for them to join the unity talks of the opposition for the upcoming polls.

“Sa amin kasi [For our part], we already started the organizations nationwide, we already set up, we have three political parties cooperating with each other. We might even have another political party joining our cooperative move for a clean, honest, and orderly elections. So it is written already,” he said.

Over the weekend, Drilon revealed that Robredo had a meeting with Sotto and Lacson but there was “no agreement reached.”

Sotto maintained that they don’t want to be identified with the administration nor the opposition.

Broad cooperation

The Lacson-Sotto tandem will also have a “broad cooperation” among Nationalist People's Coalition, Reporma, National Unity Party, and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas -- the party that nomiated former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as its presidential candidate in 2022.

Their alliance will be forged based on their common call for a clean, honest, and orderly elections, Lacson said.

The Lacson-Sotto ticket has so far 14 senatorial candidates.

Sotto said they will finalize their senatorial slate after the period of COC filing.

“Kaya di namin mabigkas agad sila kasi 14 ang kino-consider namin [We cannot divulge the list because we are considering 14 senatorial candidates]. Ang plano namin [Our plan is] after October 8, we will finalize the 12 that we will be endorsing,” he said.

Before the filing of their COCs, Lacson and Sotto attended a Mass held at a basketball court inside the Senate compound.

Last September 8, Lacson and Sotto formally announced their Eleksyon 2022 plans in a taped program aired on national television and on various social media platforms. —KG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News