Senate President Vicente Sotto III has expressed confidence that the Lacson-Sotto tandem will have a fighting chance in the 2022 elections with their expected alliance with the National Unity Party (NUP).
"We are in a point of no return," Sotto said in a text message on Monday, Oct. 4.
"Our groups and supporters are all set already nationwide. Our large organizations have started early. Remember, Ping is chairman of Reporma, Ronnie Puno is chairman of NUP and I’m chairman of NPC," he added.
"Together we are larger than any other political group," Sotto further said.
An alliance agreement between the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Partido Reporma, and the NUP was initially set for October 1 but was postponed due to conflict in schedule.
Sotto earlier said the agreement calls for "a clean, orderly and honest election", although he raised the possibilty that an alliance could follow.
The Partido Reporma and NPC will carry Senator Panfilo Lacson and Sotto as their bet for presidency and vice presidency, respectively, for the 2022 polls. They will file their certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, October 6.
The reported deal comes even as the NUP waits to renew its coalition agreement with the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a regional party led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Impending agreements with national political parties were put on hold by the HNP.
Despite filing for reelection as Davao City mayor last October 2, speculations over Duterte-Carpio's possible bid for presidency remains, especially after her father, President Duterte, announced his "retirement from politics".
The two previously agreed that only one Duterte should run for a national post next year. Substitution of election candidates are allowed until November 15.