FILE PHOTO: President Vicente Sotto III looks on as Senator Panfilo Lacson speaks. Senate PRIB photo
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III assured that he and Senator Panfilo Lacson will not neglect their duties in the upper chamber of Congress now that they have thrown their hats in the ring to seek the two highest posts in the 2022 elections.
“Pareho kaming never absent, never late. Kaya ‘di kami makakapagpabaya sa trabaho namin. Whether senior [members] kami or hindi,” Sotto told reporters in an online interview.
(Both of us have never been absent or late. That’s why we will not be neglectful of our job in the Senate. Whether we are senior members or not.)
“I don’t see any problem at all. Besides, basta’t ginagawa mo yung trabaho mo, pumapasok ka sa oras. I don’t see any problem,” he added.
(I don’t see any problem at all. Besides, as long as you do your job and go to work on time, I don’t see any problem.)
Lacson recently confirmed that he will be gunning for the presidency with Sotto as his vice-presidential candidate.
Prior to their confirmation, the two senators embarked on several consultative meetings with local officials, various sectors as well as religious leaders across the country.
Sotto said these meetings can serve as a training ground for both of them, which they can use in their campaign amid restrictions triggered by the pandemic.
“We have touched almost all the big areas in Luzon and ang importante lang is walang mga rally dito [the important thing here is there’s no rally] and then you get to know the feedback from the people, information dissemination, tell them what you stand for and what you can do,” Sotto said.
‘I’m not worried about our age’
Meanwhile, Sotto was asked about concerns regarding their age, which some say may be a challenge for them in embarking on a national campaign.
His response to this? “I am not worried about our age.”
Lacson is 73 years old while Sotto will reach the same age in August this year.
“Yung mga nagsasabi na baka mahirapan kami dahil sa edad namin, baka gusto nila magpalakasan kami ng palo sa golf?” Sotto said in jest.
(Those saying we may struggle because of our age, let’s see who has the stronger swing in golf.)