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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Robredo still open to unification, but she did not send 'feelers' for Lacson to withdraw—spox

Robredo still open to unification, but she did not send 'feelers' for Lacson to withdraw—spox

Published Mar 16, 2022 01:53 pm

COTABATO CITY—The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, March 16, denied the allegations made by fellow presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson that she has sent “feelers” for him to withdraw from the race.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson (VPLR Media Bureau/MANILA BULLETIN)

“The campaign has not officially sent any ‘emissaries’ to other candidates,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

The Vice President is currently in a campaign sortie here with a people’s rally scheduled in Basilan later today.

Gutierrez, however, maintained that Robredo is still open to unification talks with other camps.

“There have been several groups and individuals that have been working towards some form of unification, and the VP has always maintained that she remains open to these conversations,” he added.

The statement came after Lacson alleged that Robredo’s camp sent a “mediator” to give him “feelers,” which he felt was a call for him to withdraw.

Last year, Robredo and Lacson were in talks for a possible united opposition, but such talks fell after the Vice President rejected the senator’s proposal for a candidate to withdraw based on survey results.

Robredo said she felt it would be a disservice to her supporters if she will withdraw after they campaign for her.

The senator also alleged that members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), have infiltrated Robredo’s camp.

The Robredo camp called out the “red-tagging” of their volunteers, especially as it came after her massive rally in Lacson’s hometown of Cavite that drew 47,000 of Robredo’s supporters.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Robredo placed a far second at 15 percent to survey frontrunner former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who got 60 percent while Manila Mayor Isko Moreno placed third with 10 percent, Senator Manny Pacquiao placed fourth with eight percent, and Lacson ranked fifth with two percent.

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emissaries VP Leni Robredo feelers Panfilo Lacson withdrawal presidential race
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