MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday raised the possibility of some incumbent senators having to face-off with one another for the top elective posts in the 2022 national elections, but that changes may still occur since nothing is cast in stone yet.
“Aside from Sen. [Panfilo] Lacson and Sen. [Manny Pacquiao], we, among us in the Senate, talk to each other. There are a number of my colleagues that have been discussing this for some time. Nothing concrete, it’s all over coffee and sandwiches,” Sotto said in an INQside Look interview on Wednesday when asked about possible presidential and vice presidential bets in the upper chamber.
Asked if he could see a scenario where current senators will go against each other in 2022, Sotto said: “That’s possible.”
“It’s a free country. Anybody, as long as you are a Filipino citizen, natural-born Filipino citizen, and know how to read and write, you can run,” he added.
In the Senate, both Lacson and Pacquiao’s name are being floated as among those joining the presidential race in 2022.
Lacson has yet to decide on whether he will seek the top post in the coming elections or just retire from politics, while Pacquiao remains coy about his plans for 2022.
Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon also said earlier that he is looking into the possibility of running for the presidency.
Sotto, for his part, said he is open to running for the vice presidential post and will “definitely” team up with Lacson should the latter decide to join the presidential race.