Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III speaks with reporters ahead of the commemoration of the 145th birth anniversary commemoration of his grandfather, Don Vicente Sotto, on Monday, April 18, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau
CEBU CITY — For now, the presidential endorsement of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is still a “free zone” until May 9, vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday.
Less than 20 days until election day, the NPC has yet to officially endorse the tandem of Sotto with Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president.
Sotto serves as chairman of the NPC.
“As far as the party is concerned, we have met a number of times already and I have consulted the council of leaders. The NPC is composed of a chairman and the council of leaders. But we always make sure that kinakausap namin yung mga kapartido namin at kinukuha namin ang sense nila,” Sotto told reporters here when asked if the NPC will still endorse a presidential candidate.
(As far as the party is concerned, we have met a number of times already and I have consulted the council of leaders. The NPC is composed of a chairman and the council of leaders. But we always make sure that we talk to our partymates and that we get their sense.)
“Lately, really, the way it is as of today is yung presidential candidate is a free zone. Free zone na muna [for now] in other words,” he added. “As of now, the declaration of our council of leaders is a free zone… Until May 9.”
According to Sotto, some members of the NPC are already “committed” to other presidential candidates.
“To each his own, parang ganon [it’s like that], kasi may nga members kaming committed na e [because we have members who are already committed]… Meron silang mga kanya-kanya at depende sa region at area [They have their own bet, depending on region and area]. So really, it is very difficult for us,” the Senate president said.
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