Duterte endorsement is ‘gold,’ but Lacson-Sotto tandem won’t rely on it

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER.net photo / Christia Marie Ramos

MANILA, Philippines — While the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte is considered “gold,” the Lacson-Sotto tandem will not solely rely on the support of anyone going forward in their campaign.

“The endorsement of President Duterte is gold, but since he has decided not to endorse anyone, hinahayaan niya. Hinahayaan niya ang taumbayan na magdesisyon [he’s letting the people choose for themselves],” Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is running for the vice presidency, told reporters in a press conference Tuesday.

“And I know for a fact, sinabi niya hindi siya mage-endorse [he’s not going to endorse anyone], he told me personally on the phone,” he added.

This, when asked about the president’s statement that he is not supporting any presidential aspirant “at this time.

Sotto and his presidential running mate, Senator Panfilo Lacson, are in Cavite to kick off their 2022 campaign.

Lacson, for his part, said whether or not Duterte will endorse anyone is the chief executive’s prerogative.

“Prerogative nya ‘yon whether mag-endorse sya o hindi, nasa kanya yon. Sariling desisyon, sariling pananaw niya yon. Let’s leave it at that. Kami, we run as if walang nag-eendorse sa amin miski sino, walang celebrity, basta ang gagawin namin ie-educate namin ang mga botante [That’s his prerogative, whether to endorse anyone or not. That’s his own decision. We are running not relying on anyone’s endorsement, what we’ll do is to educate the voters],” the presidential candidate said.

JPV