Honoring gentlemen’s pact: Ex-VP Binay, Gordon still in Lacson-Sotto slate

Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (right) and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (left) pump their fists as a gesture of faith and confidence with each other as they take their respective political careers to even greater heights this 2022 elections. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Richard Gordon remain under the senatorial slate of the Lacson-Sotto tandem.

“It is not true that we are dropping much less have removed ex-VP Jojo Binay and Sen Dick Gordon from our senatorial slate,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a tweet on Tuesday.

It is not true that we are dropping much less have removed ex-VP Jojo Binay and Sen Dick Gordon from our senatorial slate. As far as SP Sotto and I are concerned, they continue to honor our gentlemen’s agreement unlike the two that we have dropped earlier.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 15, 2022

“As far as SP Sotto and I are concerned, they continue to honor our gentlemen’s agreement unlike the two that we have dropped earlier,” he added, apparently referring to reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista who were earlier removed from the senatorial slate.

Bautista and Gatchalian are now backing the bids of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and vice presidential contender Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

According to Lacson, they will meet this Tuesday afternoon to discuss various issues, including the endorsement of senatorial candidates.

“We will be guided by a gentlemen’s agreement that is very simple and clear,” Lacson said.

Earlier, reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, who are now backing the bids of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and vice presidential contender Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Asked if Binay and Gordon are still a part of their senatorial ticket, Senate President Vicente Sotto III told INQUIRER.net: “Yes, until we talk to all.”

“We did not remove anyone technically. We can complete the lineup anytime. VP Binay is a good candidate, so is Sen Dick,” Sotto also said in a tweet.

In a separate statement, however, Sotto said they are endorsing 11 candidates.

“…at hindi pa kasama dito sina VP Binay at Sen. Gordon. Mag-uusap pa kami to complete our magic 12 [it did not include VP Binay and Sen. Gordon. We will talk about completing the magic 12],” he said.

“So, to say that they are already removed from our line-up is totally wrong,” the vice presidential aspirant added.

Earlier in the day, Sotto told reporters that his tandem with Lacson has trimmed down to 11 its Senate bets.

“We have already trimmed it down, as of now, officially, we are endorsing 11. Nagkataon lang na 11 pa lang sila ngayon but wer’re endorsing them, gusto namin silang maging senador at tingin namin magiging magaling sila [It just happened they are still 11 for now, but we are endorsing them because we want them to be senators and we see them as good senators],” Sotto said in an interview in Parañaque City after his courtesy call on Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“Ang maganda lang sa 11 na ‘to, hindi sila committed sa kung sinong presidential candidate at kung sinong bise presidente,” he added.

(What’s good with these 11 senatorial candidates is that they are not committed to any presidential and vice presidential candidates.)

But Sotto clarified that both Binay and Gordon are not “out of the slate.”

“We did not remove anyone technically. We can complete the lineup anytime. VP Binay is a good candidate, so is Sen Dick,” the Senate president also said in a tweet.

This, even as Sotto noted that they have not been in communication with Binay while Gordon has been joining presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo in several campaign rallies.

Binay, for his part, said he has honored the gentlemen’s agreement between him and the two senators.

Kung ang isyu ay hindi ako makausap, alam naman nila ang number ko.

Still, I wish them well. Good luck sa inyo, Sen Ping at SP Tito Sotto. (2/2)

— Jejomar C. Binay (@JojoCBinay) February 15, 2022

“I never applied to be a guest candidate but I welcomed my inclusion in their ticket. We had a gentleman’s agreement. Walang ie-endorso ang guest candidates. I honored that agreement. I didn’t declare my support for anyone and didn’t attend any event. Lalaki akong kausap,” he said in a tweet.

“Kung ang isyu ay hindi ako makausap, alam naman nila ang number ko [They know my number in case the issue is that they can’t talk to me],” he added.

JPV