2022 Philippine Elections

Sotto to ‘definitely’ run for VP if Lacson seeks presidency

Mara Cepeda

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Sotto to ‘definitely’ run for VP if Lacson seeks presidency

LACSON-SOTTO FOR 2022?Senate President Vicente Sotto III chats with Senator Panfilo Lacson before the start of the Senate committee of the whole hearing on the corruptions in PhilHealth on August 11, 2020.

Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is unfazed by the possibility of running for vice president against President Rodrigo Duterte

Another possible tandem in the 2022 presidential elections is in the works after Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would “definitely” be Senator Panfilo Lacson’s running mate if the latter runs for president.

Asked by reporters about his plans for 2022 on Monday, June 7, Sotto said some sectors and his party mates in the Nationalist People’s Coalition have been approaching him and Lacson about their 2022 prospects.

“So we’re contemplating, seriously considering now. And after due consultations with not only my political party mates and also some sectoral supporters, then I’ll decide soon… If Sen. Lacson decides to run for president, I will definitely be his running mate,” said the Senate President. 

Sotto, the most veteran member of the Senate who is “graduating” from the chamber in 2022, is unfazed by the possibility of running for vice president against President Rodrigo Duterte. 

The ruling PDP-Laban party formally pushed its chairman Duterte to run for vice president in 2022 – a move that some political analysts described as a “bastardization of the electoral process.”

“The President is definitely a formidable competitor. But if I offer myself to run and be an alternative for the people to vote for, then I will concentrate on what I have to offer. The other candidates will not have any effect on my resolve,” said the Senate President. 

Sotto said that should he become vice president, he wants the office to handle the problem of illegal drugs “that the previous administrations and even this administration have not been able to resolve properly because of the different issues.”

Lacson – who is eligible to run again as senator in 2022 – has long been rumored to be gunning for the presidency. But the former police chief turned legislator has so far been coy about his 2022 plans like his friend Sotto.

Sotto, meanwhile, said he would finalize his 2022 electoral bid sometime between July and September, or just before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.