Sotto: Lacson-Atienza row due to ‘miscommunication’

CEBU CITY — Senate President Vicente Sotto III downplayed on Saturday the recent verbal spat between presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and fellow vice presidential candidate Lito Atienza, calling it a "miscommunication."

“Palagay ko miscommunication kasi palagay ko mali ang tanong kay Senator Lacson so syempre kapag mali, mali rin ang reaksyon na makakarating kay Atienza,” Sotto told reporters in an interview here.

(I think it was a miscommunication because if Senator Lacson was asked a wrong question, then the reaction that reached Atienza would also be wrong.)

Sotto, the running mate of Lacson, said he had already communicated with Atienza, who is running for vice president alongside presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

“Nagkausap kami sa telepono. Sabi lang niya huwag daw ako mabibigla kung meron siyang announcement na gagawin. Ganun lang,” he said.

(We talked over the phone. He told me that I should not be surprised if he was going to make an announcement. That's it.)

Atienza indicated on Thursday that he is seriously considering withdrawing from the vice presidential contest, and that he will do so if Lacson drops out of the presidential race.

The House deputy speaker said such a scenario "would change the whole structure" and aimed to "completely demolish" the tandem of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, both leaders in pre-election surveys.

Lacson rejected Atienza’s call, saying he was insulted by the idea.

“I'll finish this race and I'm not backing out. I would suggest that Lito Atienza should go back to school and study GMRC," Lacson said at a press conference in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday.

The senator said he would not prevent Sotto from joining Pacquiao on stage, but his running mate should follow their agreement not to endorse any presidential candidate.

The Senate leader said that he will accept any endorsements, even if they include a push for the Pacquiao-Sotto tandem.

“As I said earlier, any endorsement is a welcome thing to any politician, especially if you are running,” Sotto said.

Sotto went to Cebu City on Saturday to attend the campaign rally hosted by Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Former Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña and BOPK local candidates raised the hands of @sotto_tito at the end of the rally here in Cebu City Sports Center as sign of their support to his VP bid. @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/Q23er8rFd5

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) April 2, 2022

The BOPK, led by Cebu City mayoral bet Margot Osmeña and her running mate Franklyn Ong, is supporting Sotto and presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Cebu City has 713,074 registered voters for the 2022 polls, according to the Commission on Elections. — VBL, GMA News