As the 2022 national elections approach, no other political pairing will ever break the bond between Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III amid the traditional practice of some voters to select different sets of candidates.
Lacson said when he and Sotto decided to seek the top two highest elective positions, they vowed to campaign for each other from the start until the election day itself no matter what happens in the electoral landscape.
“Tito Sotto and I did not enter this battle together only to break up in the end. If the Lacson-Sotto tandem receives the fortune (to lead our nation), the two of us will ensure victory for every Filipino,” Lacson said.
During the CNN debate Saturday, Sotto was asked whether he entertains the possibility of working with the current frontrunner in the presidential race, in case they are the ones chosen by the electorate.
“I have not given it a thought. In my sphere, we are working on the presidency of Senator Lacson. I don’t think about it at all),” the vice-presidential aspirant said.
Sotto dismissed a projected tandem with presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Sotto maintained he is focused on working with Lacson.
He also maintained that if he and Lacson will be elected, they will use their more than 80 years in public service to address the humongous problems facing the country.
They are prepared to take advantage of their combined experience in public service as soon as they are given the mandate to properly implement the laws they enacted to solve the different problems besetting our nation.
Earlier, Lacson—who is running for President under Partido Reporma—similarly dismissed speculation of a tandem with Marcos’ running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio—stressing he will stick it out with Sotto as his running mate all the way.
Lacson added his team-up with Sotto “remains committed to uplift the lives of Filipinos by fixing the ills of government (Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin Ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino) and by going after thieves, especially those in government (Uubusin ang Magnanakaw).”
To recall, Lacson said in October last year that if he and Sotto both get elected, they will observe a ‘Council of Two’ synergy, which means they will always consult each other in terms of policy directions and decision-making to deliver the best possible leadership for Filipinos.
Under a Lacson-Sotto administration, people can expect a harmonious working relationship between the top two highest government officials of the country, where the vice president gets the same level of respect as the president and not treated by some political quarters as a ‘spare tire.’
The presidential duo is running a national campaign towards the restoration of public trust in government through the elimination of corruption.
