Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III formalized their entry into the presidential and vice presidential race in next year’s elections by filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on Wednesday.
Clad in checkered polos, Lacson and Sotto arrived at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City, around 11 a.m.
Lacson will be the standard bearer of the Partido Reporma where he is the chairman while Sotto will run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, where he serves as president.
The Lacson-Softo tandem was the first to declare they would seek the country’s two highest elective positions.
The two lawmakers have a combined 42 years of legislative experience and were the principal authors of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the most challenged law in Philippine history.
This would be the second attempt at the presidency for Lacson, 73. He was defeated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004.
Earlier, Lacson revived the Partido Reporma with Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, a former ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.
After filing his COC, Lacson said a no-nonsense, corruption-free brand of leadership will be the best weapon against syndicates, both inside and outside the government.
Lacson, who was once chief of the Philippine National Police, said his leadership would include a disciplined bureaucracy and the proper use of the national budget to benefit all Filipinos, especially those in remote areas.
He said it is time for Filipinos to get back their dignity and self-respect, but this should start with their leaders.
For his part, Sotto said he and Lacson know the problems that beset the country and know how to fix them.
“Balance the budget, budget reform, bring the money to the people and enhance the fight against illegal drugs by more emphasis on a demand reduction strategy,” he said.
“Victory can only be achieved through God’s grace. We choose to trust Him every step of the way,” he said.
The Cavite-born Lacson served as senator from 2001 until 2013. He was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as head of efforts to rehabilitate areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.
As senator, he co-authored and sponsored Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which gave government more powers to act against terrorists. Critics have raised concerns over the law’s broad definition of terrorism, even challenging its constitutionality before the Supreme Court.
Lacson also co-authored the Free Irrigation Service Act, which waived irrigation fees for farmers who own eight hectares of land or less, and the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018, which imposed harsher penalties for those proved guilty of hazing.
Sotto, a former comedian and songwriter, has been a senator since 1992.
In the periods where he didn’t work in the legislative branch, he headed the Dangerous Drugs Board. In his early days in politics, he served as the vice mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992.
Sotto said they planned to finalize their senatorial slate by Saturday, picking 12 from the 14 on their list, which includes former Agriculture secretary Manny Pinol and former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista.
Lacson and Sotto said organization and recruitment for the campaign were in full swing at the grassroots level.
Sotto also confirmed that Lacson had failed to reach an agreement with Vice President Leni Robredo about a united opposition in next year’s election. He said it was unlikely that they would join further unity talks.
Over the weekend, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Robredo had a meeting with Sotto and Lacson but no agreement had been reached.
