Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III vie for the country’s top posts as presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2022 polls.
The senators made the announcement through a video that was posted on national television and various social media platforms.
Lacson pointed to the problems that the Philippines is currently facing including that of huge debt, unemployment, closure of businesses as well as the increasing number of poor Filipinos, illegal drugs, and the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
“Hindi biro-biro ang mga pagsubok na haharapin ng susunod na administrasyon. Between me and Senate President Sotto are more than 80 years of honest, dedicated, and competent public service,” he said.
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Lacson said their “competence, integrity and courage to lead” can help the country rise above the adversities and stressed on the need for “leadership by example,” stating that “no leader can succeed if he cannot practice what he preaches.”
Lacson said that they need a “leader who will fight for what is right and will fight what is wrong. Hence, the first of our priorities is a stronger response to the pandemic. We have to fill the gaps and correct the wrongdoing.”
“We need strict discipline in the management of public coffers. There will no longer be swindlers and exploiters, whether close friends or strangers. There should be only one standard for everyone to follow and enforce. There are no sacred cows among those who will profit from the government,” he said.
The lawmaker also pointed out the need to distribute resources to various parts of the Philippines and pushed the need for local government units” autonomy but with greater accountability. “Kaunting tiis na lang, malapit na, makakaahon na tayo,” he said.
Lacson-Sotto tandem is also devising a road map which will be presented to the people.
Sotto referred to the list of “serious” problems that the Philippines is currently dealing with.
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“Marahil, dumating na tayo sa punto na hindi na natin kayangipagsawalang bahala na lamang ang mga nangyayari – sa ating gobyerno, sa ekonomiya. Tama na!Kailangan na nating tumugon! Kailangan na nating umaksyon! Kailangan na natin magsanib pwersa upang mapigilan at maitama ang mali. Ito na ang simula,” he said.
The senators were accompanied by their families during the formal announcement.
Sotto, said their senatorial lineup will made public in a separate announcement. Those who might be included in their senatorial slate are Jejomar “Jojo” Binay Sr, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian
Richard “Dick” Gordon, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, Gregorio “Goyo” Larrazabal, Loren Legarda, Lucy Torres-Gomez Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri. (AW)
