Ramon Ang says no to 2022 presidential bid — Sotto

MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Ramon Ang has rejected the Nationalist People’s Coalition’s (NPC) suggestion for him to run for president in 2022, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III disclosed on Monday.

Sotto, acting chairman of NPC, said it was around October last year when they started courting Ang to run for president.

“Syempre meron kaming mga informal na mga talks ng mga napupusuan namin na sana si ganito ay tumakbo pero noong naguumpisa na naming kausapin, ayaw naman e, so we have abandoned that idea,” he said in an online interview with reporters.

(Of course, we had informal talks with people that we want to run [for president] but they refused when we started talking to them.)

While he did not name names, Sotto categorically answered yes when asked if he was referring to Ang.

“Sabi ko maraming nag iisip ah, sa klase ng thinking mo, sa klase ng background mo… ikaw ang magaling na pwedeng tumakbong presidente,” he said, recalling his conversation with the businessman.

(I told him, many are considering you because of the way you think, because of your background… You’d be a good candidate for president.)

“It’s a demotion, ang sabi (he said),” Sotto added, quoting Ang.

Although there was no outright rejection from the businessman, Sotto pointed out that Ang’s reply already means “no.”

The Senate leader believes that Ang’s decision is already final.

JE