Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Saturday, July 10, that he and Senator Panfilo Lacson may announce on August 5 their decision on whether or not to run in the 2022 elections.
Sotto hinted on their inclination to file their candidacies for the upcoming polls, saying their consultations have so far been "very encouraging".
"Ang plano namin ni Sen. Lacson, officially mag-a-announce kami sa August 5, tentatively. August 5 ang target (Our plan is to officially announce it on August 5, tentatively. Our target is August 5)," the Senate chief said in an interview over radio DWIZ.
Sotto and Lacson have been touring across provinces in Luzon to get a pulse of the people about their potential candidacies and plans for the country.
According to Sotto, local officials were happy with their proposed programs. He said they have also met religious leaders as well as representatives from the private sectors.
"Marami silang problema doon sa tinatawag na countryside development. 'Yong mga budget reforms na kailangan para makinabang sila sa ika nga ay pera ng bayan, dapat mga Pilipino ang makinabang, eh parang ang pakiramdam nila, hindi nakakarating sa kanila, ganoon ang dating (They have a lot of problems about countryside development. They asked for budget reforms so they can also benefit from the country's coffers, that all Filipinos should benefit, and they felt they are being left behind)," Sotto said.
He added they also gathered feedbacks about the country's vaccination program, saying some were satisfied, while others were not.
Lacson is considering to run for president in 2022, with Sotto as his possible running mate for vice president.
The two are also planning to visit provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao in the coming weeks.
The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) starts on October 1, 2021.