CEBU CITY—An influential political party here has endorsed the candidacy of Senate President Tito Sotto.
The Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) expressed its support for the vice presidential run of Sotto during a proclamation rally attended by an estimated crowd of 15,000 at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday, April 2.
Sotto described the endorsement as “very valuable.”
“Any endorsement is a welcome thing for any politician. This is very valuable as far as my campaign in the Visayas is concerned,” said Sotto.
BOPK is headed by former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, whose wife, Margot, is running for mayor in the city.
In her speech, Margot said Sotto was very supportive of the city, recalling an instance when Sotto donated P5 million for the treatment of young cancer patients in the city.
Welcoming the endorsement, Sotto said the "Cebuano brand of public service, like that of the late Senate President Marcelo Fernan, should reverberate in all levels of governance."
"I have come again to this beloved city to meet my fellow Cebuanos. I traced my roots here. My lola used to sell fish at the Carbon Public Market and my lolo used to be a "kargador" in the pier area. We have relatives who are still living here in Cebu City," Sotto said.
Sotto's grandfather and namesake, Vicente Yap Sotto, served as a senator from 1946 to 1950 and the House of Representatives from 1922 to 1925, representing Cebu's 2nd District.
Sotto’s running mate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, was not around during the event. BOPK has earlier endorsed the presidential run of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Sotto assured that thehis tandem with Lacson remains intact amidst talks that Senator Manny Pacquiao is open to forming a tandem with him.
“We’re scheduling a different Lacson-Sotto event,” said Sotto.
Sotto disclosed that he was able to talk with Pacquiao's running mate, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who has expressed willingness to withdraw to pave the way for a Pacquiao-Sotto tandem.
"Sabi lang niya wag daw ako mabibigla kung may gagawing siyang announcement (He just told me not to get surprised if he makes some announcement)," Sotto said.
Sotto said he and Lacson will be holding a campaign sortie in northern Cebu on April 6 and in southern Cebu on April 7.
Sotto was joined by his family and co-hosts of noontime show Eat Bulaga.
Sotto and his wife Helen Gamboa serenaded the crowd with a Visayan song entitled Usahay.
Vic Sotto and wife Pauleen, Allan K, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and the Senate President's daughters Lala and Ciara were also in attendance.