Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he has nothing to say to fellow vice presidential candidates who have been calling on to solidify their votes for him in order to defeat Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
“I’m speeechless. Siyempre kung gagawin ‘yun eh di magpapasalamat ako at gaya nga ng sinabi ko...’yung aking karanasan nationwide, hindi pang-local ang karanasan natin (Of course, if they will do that, then I would be thankful, because as I said, my experience is nationwide, it’s not merely for local),” Sotto told reporters in an ambush interview after the PiliPinas Debates 2022 organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday.
“30 taon ay handa tayong humarap at hindi natin pagpapraktisan ang opisina ng Pangalawang Pangulo. Hindi tayo mangangapa (We were ready for 30 years. And we will not use the Office of the Vice President to practice. We will not fumble in this job),” he said.
Asked if he believes it is possible for other candidates to withdraw and support him, Sotto merely replied: “It will be unethical for me to comment. I’m sorry.”
Sotto was reacting to a statement issued by vice presidential hopeful Rizalito David who said he is willing to back out of the VP race and urge fellow bets to support the Senate leader and defeat the Sara Duterte who is running in tandem with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
The Senate chief is currently running in tandem with Partido Reporma standard bearer Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
"I don't mind supporting Senator Sotto and I don't mind supporting Leni Robredo if that is the case para lang talunin si Marcos and si Sara (just so we can beat Marcos and Sara)," David told reporters hours before the start of the debates.
The Davao City mayor did not show up during the debates, which irked some of the vice presidential candidates who attended the event.
But Sotto said he is leaving it up to the Comelec to decide on what to do with the younger Duterte as he refuses to bash the mayor.
“Like I said, to each his own. Kanya-kanyang ugali yan. Matalino naman ang mga kababayan natin. Siguro sila na ang bahalang humusga (We have our respective behavior. Our citizens are smart. I think it’s up to them to judge),” Sotto stressed.
“We leave it to the Comelec. Ayokong mamintas ng kapwa (I don’t want to criticize another fellow),” he said.