By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
Reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said he has no ill feelings over the decision of Partido Reporrma presidential candidate and fellow Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to drop him from their senatorial lineup.
“I have worked first hand with Senator Lacson and SP (Senate President) Sotto and I have nothing but utmost respect and admiration for the two gentlemen. I have seen their dedication to serving our people and their pure love for our beloved country,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
Gatchalian also apologized for any “misunderstanding” that he may have caused.
In a Twitter post on Thursday, Lacson said Gatchalian and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista are no longer part of their senatorial slate.
He said the two “have made their choices of the principles and advocacies that they will embrace moving forward in this political exercise.”
“Obviously, they are not ours. They now cease to be part of the Lacson-Sotto team,” he said.
On Monday, Gatchalian and Bautista were seen at the proclamation rally of the UniTeam of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Lacson earlier said they opted to remove Bautista who wrote a confusing letter seeking permission to be allowed to be a representative of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the UniTeam event. (PNA)-rir
