Lacson finding sched, Sotto confirms attendance at Comelec panel interview

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he has yet to find a schedule for the presidential and vice presidential panel interviews organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

His running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile confirmed his attendance at the panel interviews.

"Naghahanap pa rin kami ng (schedule) kasi May 2 to 6 naman daw ang window. Hindi pa final," Lacson said in a media briefing in Malabon City.

(We are still trying to find a schedule because they said the window will be from May 2 to 6. It is not yet final.)

When informed of the 5 p.m. deadline to confirm their availability to the poll body, Lacson said "Pag-isipan namin."

Sotto meanwhile said he was already set for the panel interview on May 4.

"Nakaschedule na ako May 4, between 10-12 via Zoom live. Alam mo naman tayo palaban tayo, kahit sino pa ilagay nila, kapag ikaw graduate ka sa mga debate nina Maceda, nina Guingona, Neptali Gonzales wala 'yan mga debate debate na ganyan, sisiw 'yan," Sotto said.

(My schedule is on May 4, between 10 to 12 via Zoom live. I am up for it. When you are used to have debates with  former senators Ernesto Maceda, Teofisto Guingona, Neptali Gonzales things like that would be like a piece of cake.)

The Comelec has said only four candidates have so far confirmed their participation in the presidential and vice presidential panel interviews as substitute for the scrapped town hall debates.

Commissioner George Garcia refused to disclose the names of the candidates who have made themselves available for the panel interview— two presidential candidates and two vice presidential bets.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has already declined to attend the presidential panel interview set on May 1.—AOL, GMA News