By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Partido Reporma standard-bearer Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, Feb. 15, denied reports that former vice president (VP) Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon have been dropped from the party’s senatorial slate.
“It is not true that we are dropping much less have removed ex-VP Jojo Binay and Sen. Dick Gordon from our senatorial slate. As far as SP (Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’) Sotto (III) and I are concerned, they continue to honor our gentlemen’s agreement unlike the two that we have dropped earlier,” Lacson said in a Twitter post.
It is not true that we are dropping much less have removed ex-VP Jojo Binay and Sen Dick Gordon from our senatorial slate. As far as SP Sotto and I are concerned, they continue to honor our gentlemen’s agreement unlike the two that we have dropped earlier.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 15, 2022
Lacson was referring to guest senatorial candidates Herbert Bautista and Sherwin Gatchalian who were earlier dropped from their slate for endorsing other presidential candidates.
Sotto, in a separate statement, concurred with Lacson.
“I would like to set the record straight and clarify reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Dick Gordon have been removed from the senatorial slate of the Lacson-Sotto tandem. Sen. Ping Lacson and I are endorsing 11 senatorial candidates as of the moment at hindi pa kasama dito sina (this does not yet include) ex-VP Binay at Sen. Gordon,” Sotto said.
He said he and Lacson have yet to discuss the matter to complete their “Magic 12” senatorial candidates.
“So, to say that they are already removed from our line-up is totally wrong,” Sotto added.
Binay is running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) while Gordon is a guest candidate of the tandem of presidential candidate, Vice President Leni Robredo, and her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan.
Lacson earlier said he will not change his principles to woo more voters or supporters.
He added that he will stand his ground on his principles despite the pressures of politics.
Lacson said predictability and stability were actually good traits to have – in politics, business, and life in general.
He said his principles and advocacies, especially against corruption are non-negotiable, even if this means not getting support in his political endeavors.
“Kami may sariling sinusundang baseline principles sa buhay namin ‘di lang sa eleksyon (We have baseline principles that we follow in life, not just in the elections),” Lacson added.
Among the principles, the former national police chief adheres to are honesty, integrity, loyalty, dignity, and self-respect – all of which were taught to him by his parents.
“We respect their decision but we also have to respect our own standards. One day lang ang election (The election is only one day). After that, we can still be friends if they so choose,” he said. (PNA) – bny
