Lacson not surprised by pro-admin bets’ last minute candidacy moves

***Lacson not surprised by pro-admin’s topbrouhaha among admin-identified 2022 bets

Senator Panfilo Lacson   (INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he was not surprised by moves made by aspirants for top national positions identified with the Duterte administration ahead of the 2022 elections.

He said he was already expecting and anticipating that the administration will put up a “solid team, a solid tandem,” saying he received initial information from former Duterte ally, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“I heard, because this was narrated to me by Speaker Alvarez, who is very close to Secretary Cusi, they’re even very good friends even as we speak. Ang sabi, nabanggit sa kanya minsan ni Al Cusi ‘Ang worry namin baka we might end up na ‘yung admin wala kaming kandidato,’” Lacson said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

(I heard because this was narrated to me by Speaker Alvarez, who is very close to Secretary Cusi. They’re even very good friends even as we speak. He said he was told by Cusi ‘our worry is that we might end up having no candidate’.)

“Kaya hindi na ako na-surprise talaga sa nangyayari ngayong mga development, because of those initial information that we were getting from within,” he added.

(That’s why I was no longer surprised with what’s happening, because of those initial information that we were getting from within.)

President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was initially eyed to succeed her father, filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president under Lakas-CMD on Saturday.

She was then adopted as the vice presidential candidate of the political party of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, the Duterte patriarch announced his intention to challenge his daughter for the vice presidency after thr PDP-Laban Cusi wing’s  standard bearer Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa withdrew his COC for president while Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go withdrew his vice presidential bid and instead filed his COC for the country’s top post under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party, which is allied with the PDP-Laban.

President Duterte is expected to file his COC on Monday, the deadline of substitution of candidates.

Lacson described the ruckus as “interesting times” which shows the “convoluted narrative of the state of politics” in the Philippines.

“Interesting times, indeed. What’s happening now showcases the convoluted narrative of the state of politics in the country,” he said.

“Sabi nga ng kaibigan kong Amerikano na matagal na dito, ‘Only in the Philippines.’ Medyo magulo but you know interesting times, let’s take it one at a time and let’s see what happens today,” he added.

(My American friend who has been here for a long time already quipped ‘only in the Philippines.’ It is quite chaotic but interesting times. Let’s take it one a a time and let’s see what happens today.)

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