Lacson: Ex-QC mayor Simon behind offer to withdraw from prexy race to support Leni-Sotto tandem

Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday bared that it was former Quezon City Mayor Brigido "Jun" Simon Jr. who tried to convince him to withdraw from the presidential race to give way to the tandem of presidential candidate Leni Robredo and vice presidential bet Vicente Sotto III.

Lacson issued the statement after the camp of Robredo denied the claim he made over the weekend.

"Last March 12, former Quezon City Mayor Brigido "Jun" Simon Jr. approached me in Pampanga to ask me to withdraw from the presidential race. He told me they can convince Sen. [Francis] Pangilinan to withdraw to give way to the tandem of Vice President Robredo and my running mate, Senate President Tito Sotto," he said.

"But I cut him off right there and told him, 'I am not withdrawing. May usapang lalaki kami ni SP Sotto na magkasama kami all the way,'" Lacson narrated.

Apart from this, the presidentiable also told Simon that there were two previous attempts by Robredo herself towards unification "but obviously for herself."

After mentioning this, Lacson said Simon stopped talking and left.

"The former mayor kept asking for an appointment a number of times, purportedly in relation to my campaign. I did not respond as I wasn't sure what the agenda was, not to mention that I do not know him that well and I was busy campaigning," the senator said.

He then reiterated that he will not drop his presidential bid.

"Again: I am not withdrawing. Even if I am left running on one leg, I will finish the race. Even if I am crippled, I will crawl to finish the race," the senator added.

Reacting to Lacson's statement, Ibarra Gutierrez, Robredo's spokesperson, said Simon is not an authorized person to speak for the Vice President's campaign and they will stick with the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem for Eleksyon 2022.

"Former Mayor Jun Simon is not authorized to speak for the campaign. If he indeed talked to Senator Lacson, then that is his personal initiative," Gutierrez said.

"Our position is crystal clear— VP Leni's choice for vice president is Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and we will do our utmost in the remaining 28 days before May 9 to work for his election," he added.

GMA News Online asked Simon to comment on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.—AOL, GMA News