Lacson on Duterte limiting endorsement to Sara: 'Expected, understandable'

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said it is "expected and understandable" for President Rodrigo Duterte to limit his endorsement to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is running for vice president in the May elections.

At a press conference here, the lawmaker and presidential candidate said Duterte has been consistent with his statement that he would remain neutral in the 2022 presidential race.

"He has already mentioned it time and again, consistent naman siya na except in the case of the daughter, Inday Sara, expected and understandable [ang endorsement] kasi may kasabihan tayo na blood is thicker than water," Lacson said.

Lacson said an endorsement from the president would come a long way as far as mustering support from local government officials is concerned.

Lacson reiterated that he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, would welcome any endorsements but their campaign will not rely on it.

"Kami naman, we don't actually rely on endorsements maski sa mga local officials. Well, pag dumating thank you very much, well and good, pero 'pag wala, double time tayo sa ground," he said.

For his part, Sotto said Duterte's statement on endorsing his daughter came quite late but it was "obvious" even before that he would declare his support to her.

Sotto then noted that not all endorsements are helpful to a candidate's campaign.

"Mayroong mga based on surveys na nakikita ko, mayroong endorsement na hindi maganda. Mayroong endorsement na fatal. Mayroong mga endorsement na nakakabawas. Mayroong endorsements na nakakadagdag. So, it works both ways," he said.

In a speech on Monday, Duterte reiterated that he is not supporting any candidate except for Sara, who is running alongside presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. —KBK, GMA News