Lacson on Robredo's rejection of unification formula: No hard feelings
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said he respects Vice President Leni Robredo’s decision to reject his offer of a “sure unification formula” for the May 2022 elections which he offered selflessly.
“It was a selfless move on my part to offer the unification formula to VP Leni Robredo since she was after a united opposition or front in 2022,” Lacson said in a text message on Sunday.
“After all, it was her objective for liaising with different forces or candidates including (Manila City) Mayor (Isko) Moreno, Sen. (Manny) Pacquiao, Sen. (Richard) Gordon, among others,” he said.
“It goes without saying, I respect her decision to resist my suggestion and whatever reasons she has for declining. I admit, while there could be some complications attendant to my suggestion, nevertheless, it was a sincere and selfless offer in support of her equally sincere efforts to have one common candidate against whoever will be the administration’s bet,” he reiterated.
According to Lacson, included in his suggestion during their meeting with Robredo last August was to have Senate President Vicente Sotto III as the common vice-presidential candidate.
“Included in my suggestion was to have SP Sotto as our common VP candidate, if only to emphasize that I have no intention of abandoning my partner,” the former top cop said.
At that meeting, which also included Sotto, Lacson said he couldn’t think of another sure unification formula.
“Not filing in October in favor of one common candidate as VP Leni would want it will not happen, considering that the campaign won’t even start until February or four (4) months later,” he pointed out.
“That’s who I am. Challenge me and I will deal with it with boldness, honesty, sincerity and sensibility. I take serious matters with utmost seriousness. Concepts are easy to deal with. How to concretize and implement is the hardest part,” the senator explained.
In her weekly radio show at Radio DZXL on Sunday, Robredo explained she resisted Lacson’s “unification” formula in the 2022 polls because she does not want to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) and then later withdraw in the middle of the game.
According to Robredo, she doesn’t want to lead her supporters on and if she ever decides to pursue the race she will not withdraw, no matter how difficult it may be.