In last rally, Lacson thanks Sotto for shunning ‘temptations’ to drop tandem

CARMONA, Cavite — In their last rally before May 9, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday thanked his running mate for sticking by him, shunning “many temptations” to drop their tandem.

In his final campaign speech delivered before a 50,000-crowd of supporters here, Lacson recalled his and Sotto’s years-long experience in the Senate together.

“Matagal na kami magkasama. Eighteen years ako sa Senado siya 24 years. At sa tagal ng aming pagsasama nalaman ko kung anong klaseng tao si SP Sotto. Napakainam pong kasama,” Lacson said during their tandem’s miting de avance.

“Napakaraming temptation. Maraming kumakausap sa kanya. Iwanan mo na si Ping gusto ka namin ampunin, sabi niya ‘Hindi. Hinding hindi ko iiwanan si Ping Lacson dahil nagsimula kaming lumahok sa laban na ito at matatapos kaming dalawa na magkasama.’ Maraming salamat partner sa iyong pagkakaibigan,” he added.

Lacson has previously said there had been “feelers” for him to withdraw from the 2022 presidential race, but he brushed off these attempts and said he will push through until the end.

Meanwhile, Sotto has been paired up with other presidential contenders, namely Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Lacson returned to his home province Cavite to hold his last grand rally before Filipinos decide on the country’s next leaders on May 9.

Sotto, for his final speech in the campaign, reiterated the need for a new kind of politics—one that is free from corruption.

“Gusto namin ng bagong pulitika, ang kailangan natin sa Pilipinas walang korapsyon, ang pera ng gobyerno dapat ibigay sa taumbayan,” the Senate president said.

“Sa matatapang, ang bukas ay pagkakataon, pagkakataon na natin ‘to Pilipinas, sa Lunes (May 9),” he added.

Lacson and Sotto were joined by senatorial bets Dr. Minguita Padilla, former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar.

Former senators JV Ejercito and Gringo Honasan, who are seeking a return to the upper chamber, are also in attendance.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem campaign, however, does not end with their miting de avance in Cavite.

They are scheduled to hold a caravan in Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite on the last day of the campaign period on Saturday, May 7.

The two veteran senators are banking on the so-called silent majority, including soft and “thinking” voters to push them to victory.

In latest pre-election surveys, Lacson has been lagging behind four of his presidential rivals. But Lacson remains unfazed by his survey numbers.

Meanwhile, Sotto is a far second to the survey frontrunner, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the latest Pulse Asia pre-election poll.

JPV