Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija— Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he and running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III are not withdrawing from the May elections.
In a live interview aired via online radio station DWJJ/CabTV on Tuesday, Lacson said he and Sotto dismissed claims that they are withdrawing from their respective electoral bids to make way for another tandem.
“Hihirit lang ako, kasi may mga fake news na lumalabas—mapa-YouTube, mapa-Facebook—aatras na raw kaming dalawa? Huwag kayong maniwala. Kasi aatras lang kami sa May 9 either papunta kaming Malacañang or pauwi ng bahay,” Lacson in the radio interview said. [Let me just add, because there is fake news coming out again—either on YouTube, Facebook—that the two of us are withdrawing? Don’t believe that. Because we are only going to move on May 9 either toward Malacañang or back to our own homes.]
A YouTube channel called ‘Showbiz Fanatics’ floated the idea that anytime today (March 22), Lacson and Sotto would reportedly announce that they would no longer continue their campaign.
Ashley Acedillo, a spokesperson for Lacson, earlier denied this and warned the public against following or subscribing to the said channel.
“Ping Lacson is absolutely determined to finish the campaign, and hopefully, make it as President along with his running mate for VP (vice president), Tito Sotto,” Acedillo said.
Lacson and Sotto recently visited Nueva Ecija to resume their election-related activities.
Lacson also bared his “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) policy of the incumbent leadership to the growing list of programs that he plans to continue under his possible administration once he is elected as the 17th president.
The OTOP is a priority stimulus program implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to spur inclusive local economic growth through the development and marketing of featured products and services from a particular locality.
At the recently concluded first round of the ‘PiliPinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point’ of the Commission on Elections, Lacson said he is inclined to sustain this type of program as a matter of policy towards ensuring the sustainability of livelihood and job opportunities for the Filipinos.
He also linked up several farmers to a research and development facility at the UP BIOTECH in Los Baños, Laguna for their organic fertilizer needs during their recent visit to the Cagayan Valley region.
