Lacson, Sotto drop Herbert Bautista from Senate slate

The tandem of presidential aspirant Panfilo Lacson and running mate Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday confirmed that they have dropped former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista from their Senate slate for Eleksyon 2022.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Lacson disclosed that Bautista sent a letter informing them that he wanted to be the representative of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte’s “UniTeam.”

Bautista filed his certificate of candidacy for senator under NPC, which is chaired by Sotto.

“Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin [ang sulat]… Sinabi ko kay SP, hindi ako concerned dito kasi hindi naman ako NPC pero itong sulat niya, hindi ko rin alam maintindihan,” Lacson said.

(I don't know how to respond to his letter. I told SP that I am not concerned in this issue because I am not a member of NPC.)

“Hindi naman ako NPC. So ako, damay ako sa kanya (Sotto) kasi magka-tandem kami e,” the presidential hopeful explained.

(I am not a member of NPC but I am affected because my running mate is from that party.)

When asked if Bautista was officially dropped from their list, Lacson and Sotto answered in the affirmative.

Lacson then said it is up for the NPC whether they will expel Bautista from the party or not.

“That’s a decision that the NPC has to make as a political party,” he added.

In a statement, Bautista thanked Lacson and Sotto for including him in their slate.

“While my belief is that politics is addition, I have no ill feelings after they decided to remove my name from their senatorial ticket. Their decision, however, will afford me the opportunity to openly campaign for the BBM-Sara UniTeam,” he said.

“My respect for Senators Lacson and Sotto has not diminished. I look up to them with appreciation for every thing they have done for the country. I wish both of them the best of luck.”

'Hypocrite if I say no effect on us'

Lacson also said that they are also working to validate reports of re-electionist Senator Richard Gordon’s supposed endorsement of another presidential and vice presidential tandem.

Gordon joined the proclamation rally of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan in Naga on Tuesday.

“We have to validate. Mahirap umasa sa report na ‘di validated [It is hard to decide based on unvalidated reports],” Lacson said.

On the other hand, Sotto said other members of their senatorial slate— Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian—had assured them that they would not openly endorse another tandem throughout the election period.

Zubiri and Gatchalian were at the proclamation rally of Marcos and Sara in Bulacan on Tuesday.

While he admitted that their senatorial bets’ absence in their rallies has an effect on their campaign, Lacson said they will still accommodate them as long as they won’t “openly” endorse anyone.

“Hypocrite kung sasabihin ko na walang epekto [I will be a hypocrite if I will say it has no effect on us],” he said.

Members of the senatorial slate who were present at Lacson and Sotto’s proclamation rally on Tuesday were 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.

Apart from them, the Lacson and Sotto tandem endorses Antique Representative Loren Legarda, Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Joel Villanueva, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, and broadcaster Raffy Tulfo.

QC courtesy call

Before the press conference, Lacson and Sotto paid a courtesy call on Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

Gian is Sotto’s son.

“What I can say right now is definitely as far as Mayor Joy and Gian are concerned they are supporting us. ‘Yung endorsement antayin namin sila [we will wait if they will endorse us] during their proclamation or when they feel they should do that. We leave it that,” Sotto said when asked if Belmonte will officially declare her support for their ticket.

Sotto said it is important for them to get the support of QC local government unit as this is where he started his political career.

Sotto served as the city’s vice mayor from 1988 to 1992.

For Lacson, Quezon City is important as it is a vote-rich city with around 1.2 million registered voters.

He, however, maintained that they are not seeking any endorsements and they leave it to the LGU officials to openly declare their support.

Belmonte was not present at the Lacson-Sotto campaign rally in Quezon Memorial Circle. — BM, GMA News