Drilon admits calling Sotto for possible unification talks

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday admitted that he called vice presidential bet Senator Vicente Sotto III for possible unification talks after Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez shifted his support to Vice President Leni Robredo.

“I admit, I called him (Sotto). But when I called him, I just meant to say, ‘Boss anong gagawin natin [Boss, what are we going to do]?’ It is in that context,” Drilon said.

“Should we talk? And he said teka muna [wait], I am not ready,” he added.

Partido Reporma President Alvarez announced last month that, given the realities on the ground, the party had decided to support another presidential candidate despite party Chairman and presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson being "the most qualified to be president."

Lacson resigned from the party soon after.

Meanwhile, Drilon clarified that he never convinced the Senate President to agree to a Robredo-Sotto tandem.

“No. I just said mag usap tayo [we talk]. I never convinced him. Wala naman kaming masamang pinagsamahan [we don't have a bad relationship] I felt free calling him and talking in this manner,” he said. “How can you pressure a Senate President? And he is a candidate.”

Drilon maintained that Robredo had been consistent and firm that Senator Kiko Pangilinan would be her running mate in the May 9 polls.

“We will work for the success of the Leni-Kiko tandem,” Drilon added.

In a Viber message to GMA News Online, Sotto affirmed Drilon's statements on the matter.

"Sen. Frank and I have always been in touch whether it's about politics or Senate work," Sotto said.

Leni not a bully

Meanwhile, Drilon stressed that Robredo had never been a bully.

The senate minority leader made the remark after Manila Mayor and presidential bet Isko Moreno accused the Vice President of being “matapobre” and “a bully.”

“Alam mo meron kaming kasabihan, kaming mga abogado, let the thing speak for itself. Nakikita naman natin he says we are a bully, Leni is a bully. I have never seen a candidate who is maamo kesa kay Leni,” Drilon pointed out.

(You know we have a saying, we lawyers, let the thing speak for itself. We see that he says we are a bully, Leni is a bully. I have never seen a candidate who is gentler than Leni.)

“She is very pleasant and firm. That allegation has absolutely no basis. But we are conscious of how people perceive us, and we adjust so that the perception does not become a reality,” he added.

Robredo on Thursday said she did not want to engage in a fight with Moreno, who has publicly called on her to drop her presidential bid.

Moreno previously alleged that Robredo’s camp was behind calls for his and other candidates' withdrawal from the presidential race. — DVM, GMA News