FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo (left) and Senator Panfilo Lacson (right). INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday said he respects the decision of Vice President Leni Robredo to decline his ‘winning unification formula’ for the presidency as he noted that his reaching out to the Vice President was a “selfless move.”
Robredo, in her weekly radio address, said she opposed Lacson’s offer because of her “personal belief” that she should follow through with her presidential bid until the end, even if she ranks low in surveys.
Lacson, who earlier announced his presidential bid, revealed to Robredo his formula that calls for opposition candidates withdrawing at certain points in the election race once the strongest candidate emerges. This will be determined by survey ratings.
“It was a selfless move on my part to offer the unification formula to Vice President Leni Robredo since she was after a united opposition/front in 2022,” Lacson said in a statement.
“After all, it was her objective for liaising with different forces or candidates including Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Richard Gordon, among others,” he added.
READ: OVP confirms Robredo’s separate meetings with Lacson, Gordon for 2022 polls
“It goes without saying, I respect her decision to resist my suggestion and whatever reasons she has for declining,” he went on.
Lacson also admitted that there may be “complications” in his suggestion.
“Nevertheless, it was a sincere and selfless offer in support of her equally sincere efforts to have one common candidate against whoever will be the administration’s bet,” he pointed out.
“That’s who I am. Challenge me and I will deal with it with boldness, honesty, sincerity and sensibility. I take serious matters with utmost seriousness. Concepts are easy to deal with. How to concretize and implement is the hardest part,” he added.
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