Lacson heads home to Cavite; Sotto concedes

Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential candidate Vicente Sotto III. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Short of a concession, presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday may have given up hope of winning in his last run for the country’s highest elective post, as he heads home to Cavite to cap his 50 years in public service.

His running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, was more straightforward, issuing a concession statement even as the vote counts remain unofficial.

“I’m going home. After being away too long looking after the needs of other people, it is time to serve my family for a change,” Lacson said in a tweet.

Lacson also shut all possibility of him taking another shot at any elective post.

In a statement, Sotto said the people have made their choice, and he “accepts the will of the people.”

“We presented an alternative for a better system in governance and politics but the electorate had their minds conditioned elsewhere,” he said.

Sotto did not name the candidates but wished the incoming president and vice president good luck.

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