The spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, July 28, confirmed that she met last week with Senator Panfilo Lacson to speak about bringing the “broadest possible unity” ahead of the 2022 national elections.
“My understanding is that these meetings were held last week. I can't speak about the specifics, but this is all part of the VP's commitment to forge the broadest possible unity among groups and individuals seeking change in 2022,” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said.
Early on Wednesday, the senator, who recently announced his candidacy for president in 2022, said that he and his runningmate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, met with Robredo and Senator Bam Aquino.
READ: Lacson-Sotto 2022 tandem a go
He did not disclose what they talked about during the meeting but only affirmed that they’ve already met.
This was in response to Senator Francis Pangilinan’s earlier statement that the Liberal Party, which Robredo chairs, is reaching out to Lacson and other personalities to bring together the broadest unity possible in the 2022 polls.
The vice president earlier spoke about bringing together a united opposition to beat the administration bet, saying that she’s open to simply play a role in making this possible even if it means not pushing through with her reported presidential bid.
READ: Opposition must have a common standard-bearer in 2022 — Robredo
Lacson and Sotto were the first to announce their electoral bid for the 2022 elections. They said they are the public’s “alternative” as they are neither pro-administration nor opposition.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez said that Robredo also had meeting with Senator Richard Gordon, who tested positive to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, before the vice president went to Naga for her Vaccine Express project there.
Robredo was in her hometown of Naga on July 23 to 24 to oversee the inoculation of more than 6,700 individuals with Janssen’s single-dose vaccine.
Gordon, who is currently isolating now and is asymptomatic, was the sixth senator to contract COVID-19. Despite being vaccinated, he said he has been undergoing regular testing.
The others who also had COVID-19 were Senators Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Revilla, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.