Senator Panfilo Lacson (left) and Senate President Vicente Sotto III hold a press conference in Cauayan, Isabela on Monday, Mar. 14, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau.
CAUAYAN, Isabela — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said a “mediator” from the campaign team of Vice President Leni Robredo gave him “feelers,” which he felt was a call for him to withdraw so they can unite against presidential frontrunner, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
But Lacson maintained he and his running mate, vice presidential bet Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will not step down from their respective electoral races.
“For the nth time, ‘di kami aatras… Ayaw ko na lang sabihin na may mga feelers, may mga overtures na may mga parang compromises na inihain. I won’t give more details pero simple lang sagot namin e. Nung nag-decide kami [na tumakbo], yun na ‘yon,” Lacson told reporters in a press conference here.
He said this happened “very recently.”
Lacson also surmised that other candidates were approached as well.
“Gusto talaga nila masolo,” he said.
Asked if he was asked by the “mediator” to step down from the presidential race, Lacson said: “Basta may digang ganoon.”
“Pero papunta sa kanila yung usapan. Anong iko-conclude ko? Alangan namang kay Bongbong. Para raw labanan si Bongbong. Para mas malaki yung chance. Anong ibig sabihin no’n?” he added.
Marcos has consistently secured a lead in pre-election surveys. Robredo has always ranked second while Lacson continues to fall behind his rivals with single-digit voter preference.
‘No more’ unification
Lacson, however, was firm in saying he is no longer open to unification talks with Robredo, saying he could not “abandon” Sotto and their supporters.
“No more. Tapos na,” Lacson said.
“At saka I cannot abandon the Senate President. I cannot abandon our supporters. Naghirap na sila e. Nainitan sila. Naghihirap sila pagkakampanya,” he added.
To recall, Lacson and Robredo held “unification” talks before the filing of candidacies in October 2021. Lacson had offered a “sure unification formula” but it was rejected by the vice president.
Lacson had proposed that non-administration candidates withdraw at certain points from the race once the strongest candidate emerged as determined by survey ratings. He also suggested that he and Robredo carry Sotto as their common vice presidential running mate.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Robredo’s spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez for comment but has yet to receive a response as of writing.