Lacson-Sotto tandem starts 2022 election campaign in Cavite

CITY OF IMUS, Cavite — The tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday officially launched their 2022 election campaign.

Lacson and Sotto, who are running for president and vice president, respectively, in the May 9 elections, faced a huge crowd from the different districts of Imus City.

Around 4,000 people were expected to attend the event held at the Imus Grandstand.

WATCH: Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson arrives here at Imus Grandstand for the kick-off of their national campaign @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/UMcAOYw0Fy

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) February 8, 2022

Before the proclamation rally, they attended a Mass at the Imus Cathedral along with their families.

Members of the senatorial slate were present at the proclamation rally, namely, Partido Reporma stalwarts former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, Dr. Minguita Padilla, and former Makati Representative Monsour del Rosario, as well as former Senator JV Ejercito, and former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.

At a press conference prior to the event, Lacson said they would still endorse the other 12 senatorial candidates whom they named last October.

These include Antique Representative Loren Legarda, Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero, former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Richard Gordon, former Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, and broadcaster Raffy Tulfo.

However, Lacson and Sotto said that they will no longer campaign for senatorial candidates who support other candidates for president and vice president.

Lacson and Sotto vowed to observe discipline on the campaign trail.

“We will continue to strictly adhere to existing health protocols in areas that we will visit. We will not be part of the problem but of the solution. If the price of doing so is not being able to project ‘support’ through optics, we are willing to take that risk,” Lacson said.

The presidential candidate said they have been “prepared and ready to undergo the rigors of the 90-day campaign period.”

“We will keep it that way,” he said.

Both Lacson and Sotto are in their 70s.

Cavite, a vote-rich province, is considered Lacson’s bailiwick as the presidential aspirant was born and raised in Imus.

The tandem’s campaign slogan is “Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino” (Fix the Government, Fix the Lives of Every Filipino) and “Uubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Get Rid of the Thieves). — VBL, GMA News