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Lacson wanted opposition bets to pick Sotto as their VP

MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson has revealed the details of the “unification” plan he pitched to Vice President Leni Robredo, which she has since rejected.

Lacson said he met with Robredo in a Metro Manila hotel on July 21.

The senator said he was with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III during the meeting, while Robredo was with former senator Bam Aquino.

“Noong naupo na kami, siyempre yun din ang unang bungad ano, papaano mag-unify. Ako naman, alam mo ang pinakamadaling pag-usapan ay yung konsepto. Alam mo yung concept, maski maghapon tayo mag-usap, magkakasundo tayo sa concept. Pero sa akin, ako ibang yung pananaw ko lagi. Mas sayang yung oras kung puro concept ang pag-uusapan natin. Yung how to implement, yun ang mas mahirap na parte,” he told DZMM TeleRadyo.

It was then that he brought up his proposal: for them to adopt Sotto as their common vice presidential bet.

“So, ang una kong sinabi, Maam, ganito’ng suggestion ko, this is top of head. You may take it or leave it. What if, sabi ko kung pwede, i-adopt niya si Vice President Sotto as our common vice presidential candidate. Magfile tayo pareho pero pagdating ng takdang panahon na nakikita natin sino yung malinaw na malinaw na may laban sa administrasyon, ‘yun na lang ang tumuloy at yung malinaw namang walang laban, eh yun na lang yung tumulong, na mag-withdraw.”

Lacson said he was looking at the practical side of things when he brought up this suggestion.

“Para talagang magka, para medyo mas praktikal, ang tinitingnan ko hindi yung sinasabi kanina ni Atty. Howie (Calleja) na unity of purpose, hindi unity of numbers. Ang tinitingnan yung practicality. Kasi kung hindi naman maisasakatuparan, para ano pa yung pag-uusap,” he said.

Lacson said Robredo nixed his proposal because her withdrawal of her candidacy in a previous election resulted in some problems.

“Noon daw araw, hindi ko na matandaan kung anong eleksyon ‘yun, nag-file din siya ng certificate of candidacy pero nag-withdraw siya. Dahil nung nag-withdraw siya, ang naging resulta, may mga bumoto pa rin sa kanya. Kaya sabi niya, Senator Ping, parang mahirap kasi nangyari na sa’kin yan. Nakapag-file ako nung araw, nag-withdraw ako. Eh pero ang lumabas doon parang di na na-transfer yung ibang boto ko kasi marami pa ring bumoto sakin,” he said.

Lacson said he is ‘quite disappointed’ with Robredo thumbing down his proposal for the 2022 elections.

“Hindi ito parang solido, ibig sabihin pwede pang may variations ito. Pwede pag-usapan. Kaya lang yun, sabihin nating I was quite disappointed that nipped in the bud, so to speak,” he said.

“Ang iniisip ko sana man lang ang sagot ni Vice President Leni, ah, sige pag-usapan natin ‘yan, at magkonsulta ako sa mga supporters, parang ganoon parang may opening. Pero outright nung sinabi niyang hindi pwede yan, or talagang may resistance, parang, ayoko nang i-pursue,” he explained.

On Sunday, Robredo said in a radio interview that she rejected Lacson’s proposal because it would mean leading on their supporters.

• Robredo explains why she rejected Lacson's 'unification formula' for 2022 polls

“Ang paniniwala ko, pag nag-file ang isang kandidato ng certificate of candidacy, piniprisenta na namin sa publiko ang sarili namin eh. 'Yung mga naniniwala sa amin, tataya na sa amin,” she said.

"Pag nag-file ako, kailangan kong ituloy ang laban. 'Pag nag-file ako, hindi ako puwedeng umatras, kahit gaano pa kahirap, kasi prinisenta ko na ang sarili ko sa publiko eh.”