Presidential aspirant Senator Ping Lacson and his vice presidential bet Senate president Tito Sotto are not supporting presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s call for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the May 9 presidential race.
Sotto made the clarification following the joint press conference on Easte Sunday initiated by Moreno, Lacson and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales. In the event, the Manila mayor advised Robredo to quit her presidential race.
“It’s not true. Senator Lacson never said anything to that effect. As a matter of fact, if they listened closely, Mayor Moreno said, ‘eto akin lang ito, wala ito sa kanila, alam mo imbes na kami ang pinagwi-withdraw mo, ikaw ang mag-withdraw’. Sabi ni Moreno, sabi ni Mayor Moreno. Anong kinalaman nina Gonzales at nina Ping doon?” Sotto told reporters.
“Siya yun. Siya lang. Sa parte niya, wala kaming koneksyon dun. Ako definitely kasi witness lang ako doon,” he added.
Sotto explained that he does not support any call for any presidential candidates to withdraw.
“Wala akong sinusuportahan na magwithdraw kahit na sino,” he said.
Meanwhile, Robredo encouraged her supporters to focus, instead, on their campaign efforts.
“Mulas bukas, 20 campaign days nalang natitira. Kailangan ‘wag tayong magpatalo sa emosyon. Huwag nang magbitaw ng masasakit na salita,” she said in a social media post.
“Focus lang muna tayo sa kampanya—tao sa tao, puso sa puso. May bayan tayong kailangan ipaglaban,” she continued. — Ronald Espartinez