Senator Panfilo Lacson during a press conference in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday bared that it was former Quezon City Mayor Brigido “Jun” Simon Jr. who asked him to back out from the presidential race in favor of a Robredo-Sotto tandem.
“Last March 12, former Quezon City Mayor Brigido ‘Jun’ Simon Jr. approached me in Pampanga to ask me to withdraw from the presidential race. He told me they can convince Sen. [Francis] Pangilinan to withdraw to give way to the tandem of Vice President Robredo and my running mate, Senate President Tito Sotto,” Lacson said in a statement.
“But I cut him off right there and told him, ‘I am not withdrawing. May usapang lalaki kami ni SP Sotto na magkasama kami all the way.’ I also narrated to him two previous attempts by the Vice President herself towards unification but obviously only for herself. He stopped talking and left,” he added.
Over the weekend, Lacson said he was asked to drop his presidential bid to allow Vice President Leni Robredo and Senate President Tito Sotto to form a tandem for the coming elections.
At the time, Lacson did not reveal the identity of the person who approached him.
“The former mayor kept asking for an appointment a number of times, purportedly in relation to my campaign. I did not respond as I wasn’t sure what the agenda was, not to mention that I do not know him that well and I was busy campaigning,” Lacson went on.
The senator further stressed that he will not back out from the presidential race.
“Again: I am not withdrawing. Even if I am left running on one leg, I will finish the race. Even if I am crippled, I will crawl to finish the race,” Lacson said.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Simon for comment but has yet to receive a response as of writing.
‘Not authorized’
Meanwhile, Robredo’s spokesperson, Barry Guttierez, said Simon “is not authorized to speak for the campaign.”
“If he indeed talked to Senator Lacson, then that is his personal initiative. Our position is crystal clear — VP Leni’s choice for Vice President is Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and we will do our utmost in the remaining 28 days before May 9 to work for his election,” Guttierez said in a message to reporters when asked about Lacson’s statement.