The Lacson-Sotto tandem has dropped Senator Sherwin ‘’Win’’ Gatchalian in its senatorial slate.
This comes after Gatchalian and former Quezon city Mayor Herbert ‘’Bistek’’ Bautista attended the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s proclamation rally in Bulacan instead of the Lacson-Sotto tandem rally in Imus, Cavite last Tuesday.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, presidential candidate of Partido Reporma, said Gatchalian and Bautista ‘’have made their choices of the principles and advocacies that they will embrace moving forward in this political exercise.’’
Both Gatchalian and Bautista are members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) where the chairman is Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III.
Sotto is Lacson’s vice presidential candidate.
‘’Obviously, they (Gatchalian and Bautista) are not ours. They now cease to be part of the Lacson-Sotto team,’’ he added.
In a statement, Gatchalian said: ‘’I have worked first hand with Senator . Lacson and SP (Senate President Vicente C.) Sotto (III) and I have nothing but utmost respect and admiration for the two gentlemen.’’
‘’I have seen their dedication to serve our people and their pure love for our beloved country. For this, I respect the decision of their leadership,’’ he stressed.
‘’I also apologize for any misunderstanding that I may have caused,’’ he added.
A query to a Gatchalian media relations officer by Manila Bulletin on this issue produced this reply: ‘’He didn't leave po but he was removed from the line-up.’’
During a press conference in Quezon City yesterday afternoon, Sotto said Bautista is no longer with the tandem’s senatorial lineup because of ‘’disloyalty to the party.’’
In that same conference, Sotto said that ‘’as far as I am concerned, si Sherwin, ang usapan namin, even his brother Wes, ay kami ine-endorse..Hindi siya nag-e-endorse ng bang candidate. Yong ang pagkaalam ko, yon ang usapan namin (Sherwin and his brother Wes, based on our talks, they are endorsing us. He is not endorsing another candidate. That is what I know, that was our conversation).
Gatchalian had nurtured hopes of being a vice presidential candidate under a Sara Duterte presidency. This did not come about.
Sotto, when asked whether Gatchalian and Bautista are no longer in the senatorial line up of the Lacson/Sotto tandem, replied:
`"Let me put it this way ,the list we are endorsing now includes former senators JV (former Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito), Loren Legarda and (Francis) Chiz (Escudero), (former Agriculture Secretary) Manny Piñol, former Philippine National Police) General Eleazar, Monsour (del Rosario) Dr. (Minguita) Padilla, (Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel) Migz (Zubiri), (Senator) Joel (Villanueva), Raffy (Tulfo), (former Senator Gregorio) ‘’Gringo’’ (Honasan II) and we are checking on Dick (Senator Richard J. Gordon) and former VP (Vice President Jejomar) Binay if they are still with us.’’