Senate President Vicente Sotto III (in yellow) and Senator Panfilo Lacson (in black) pray at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, on Thursday, July 8, 2021, ahead of their consultative meeting with local officials. Photo from Sotto’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson started Thursday their consultative meetings with local officials in Bulacan ahead of the 2022 polls.
Sotto and Lacson stopped by the Barasoain Church in Malolos City to “seek God’s guidance and wisdom” before meeting with local officials there.
“Started our journey for Luzon consultative tour with a prayer. Besides, I go to church every day anyway,” Sotto told reporters in a Viber message on Thursday.
Asked what he and Lacson prayed about, Sotto told INQUIRER.net: “Ang bansa (The country).”
After praying at the Barasoain Church, Sotto said he and Lacson met with Malolos City Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian, city councilors and religious leaders.
According to Sotto’s staff, the two senators kicked off their “Tour of Luzon” meetings to seek suggestions on the country’s post-pandemic recovery plan.
“Ang kanilang version ng Tour of Luzon ay para kumustahin ang mga LGUs, tingnan ang kanilang kalagayan at makakuha ng mga suhestyon para sa post-[COVID-19] recovery plan ng bansa,” Sotto’s office said.
(Their version of the Tour of Luzon is to ask how the LGUs are doing and to assess their situation and get suggestions on the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery plan.)
Sotto, in a separate message to reporters, said he and Lacson also went to Tarlac and Zambales later in the day.
They will head to Pangasinan and La Union on Friday then proceed to the Ilocos provinces and Cagayan on Saturday, according to Sotto. He said they will be in Luzon until Sunday.
The two are planning dates for their consultative meetings in Visayas and Mindanao, Sotto also disclosed.
Both senators are considering running for higher office in 2022. Lacson is poised to join the presidential race and Sotto will be his vice president.
READ: Sotto to ‘definitely’ team up with Lacson in 2022 if latter runs for president
The two, however, have yet to make an official announcement on their plans for the approaching elections.