Lacson-Sotto tandem won’t rely on Duterte’s endorsement

President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of a presidential and vice presidential candidates may be considered “gold” but presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III will not rely on it.

“The endorsement of President is gold, but since he has decided not to endorse anyone, hinahayaan niya...ang taumbayan na magdesisyon (he’s letting the people choose for themselves),” Sotto told reporters during a press conference Tuesday, February 8, before the start of their proclamation rally at the Imus Grandstand.

“And I know for a fact, he’s not going to endorse , he told me personally on the phone,” added Sotto.

For his part, Lacson said he respects Duterte’s decision whether or not he would endorse anyone in the upcoming May 2022 elections.

“Prerogative nya ‘yon whether mag-endorse sya o hindi, nasa kanya yon. Sariling desisyon, sariling pananaw niya ‘yun (That’s his prerogative, whether to endorse or not. It’s up to him. It’s his personal decision, personal views). Let’s leave it at that,” Lacson said.

“Kami, we run as if walang nag-eendorse sa amin miski sino, walang celebrity. Basta ang gagawin namin ie-educate namin ang mga botante (We are running without relying on anyone’s endorsement. What we’ll do is just to educate the voters),” the presidential candidate said.

Duterte’s party, the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) earlier endorsed the vice presidential bid of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

However, the PDP-Laban did not endorse Duterte-Carpio’s running mate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.