Cebu mayors in Garcia bailiwick supporting Sotto for vice president

Cebu mayors in Garcia bailiwick supporting Sotto for vice president

The show of support for Sotto comes from members of the Garcia family's One Cebu party, who earlier endorsed the Marcos-Duterte UniTeam tandem.

CEBU, Philippines – Several mayors in Cebu’s 7th Congressional District, a bailiwick of the Garcia dynasty, met with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and said they would support his bid for vice president on Friday, April 29.

Sotto appeared at an event in Dumanjug town to thank the mayors of southern Cebu.

When asked by reporters on the sidelines of the event if the mayor’s support was an “endorsement” for vice president, Sotto said, “Yes, they gave me to the commitment that all of them would be supporting me for vice president, the entire 7th District.”

When reporters asked Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica and Cebu 7th District Congressman Peter John Calderon if the meeting with Sotto was an endorsement, they did not say categorically if it was.

Dumanjug is the hometown of the Garcia dynasty.

All of the incumbent officials of this district are from the ruling party One Cebu, led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The mayors diverted from their party’s endorsement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for vice president.

Garcia previously promised the Marcos-Duterte tandem a win with a greater margin than the 2016 victory of President Rodrigo Duterte in the province.

Incumbent mayors and vice mayors from localities in the following town were a part of the meeting:

Dumanjug

Ronda

Alcantara

Moalboal

Badian

Alegria

Malabuyoc

Santander

Samboan

Ginatilan

Also supporting Sotto’s bid is Cebu 7th District Representative Peter Calderon.

Sotto explained that although the local officials who attended, including the town councilors and barangay captians from these towns, are members of the One Cebu, his ally Calderon is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Prior to this, Sotto’s only other endorsement was from Cebu City’s Osmeña family and its local party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

The meeting was held at the home of Gica.

During the meeting, Sotto promised to push for another P1 billion in funding for agriculture, livelihood and infrastructure development per province on top if its internal revenue allotment.

Gica, a member of One Cebu, openly declared on April 21 that he is supporting the bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.

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Lacson Wins Converts in Bicol

Lacson Wins Converts in Bicol

April 30, 2022 - Independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson managed to win over converts in parts of Bicol where he campaigned on Friday.

Lacson and senatorial bet Minguita Padilla noted the audiences at their town hall meetings in Catanduanes and Camarines Sur became enthusiastic after noticing he and Padilla listen to their problems.

"Sa una, parang kaunti lang ang responses na narinig, yung reactions. But then after the open forum, something really changed, talagang na-reversed ang situation, so we would like to think na yung conversation napakalaki. Kasi naiba talaga, very very visible (At first, there seemed to be little response from the audience in our town hall meeting. But after the open forum, something really changed. The situation was reversed. So we would like to think there was a conversion)," Lacson said.

He said they even had to extend the town hall meeting in Catanduanes by at least 30 minutes because of the engagement from the audience.

Padilla added some members of the audience wearing pink masks even followed them to their vehicles and said, "nag-switch na kami (We're switching to Lacson)."

"As it turned out, nakapag-convert and that was very evident in Catanduanes (As it turned out, we won over some converts and that was very evident in Catanduanes)," Lacson said.

In the Naga town hall event, Lacson noted the audience stayed until the last minute.

When asked if this gave him hope, he said, "Definitely."

*****

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PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 30, 2022

PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 30, 2022

KAYA HUWAG KALIMUTANG

IBOTO SI PING LACSON NR 5 SA BALOTA

PAGKA-PRESIDENTE NG BANSANG PILIPINAS!

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BUONG MASBATE! MAGSANIB PWERSA PARA SA LACSON-SOTTO TANDEM!

PING LACSON FOR PRESIDENT NR: 5

TITO SOTTO FOR VICE-PRESIDENT NR: 9

HUWAG KALIMUTAN SA MAY 9, 2022!

 

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VOTE: PING LACSON FOR PRESIDENT!

VOTE: PING LACSON FOR PRESIDENT!

NR 5 SA BALOTA!

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Lacson calls off North sorties in favor of Abra visit

Lacson calls off North sorties in favor of Abra visit

BANGUED, Abra — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson has called off his campaign activities in Ilocos Sur and Norte to make time for his visit in this province.

Lacson’s initial schedule showed that he was supposed to visit the two Ilocos Region provinces on Tuesday but his scheduled activities were cancelled.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson was also supposed to host a lunch for Lacson at his family’s restaurant, which is located at the famed Calle Crisologo in Vigan, according to the senator.

“I requested to call it off kasi gipit sa oras [because of the lack of time] considering that the Bersamins, the Reporma candidates in Abra who decided to stick with me are hosting an early lunch, followed by a courtesy call to the bishop to be capped by a town hall meeting in Bangued,” Lacson told reporters when asked regarding the cancellation of his activities in the said provinces.

To recall, Lacson earlier parted ways with the Partido Reporma after party president former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the group’s Davao del Norte bloc decided to endorse another presidential contender.

“I’m sorry but I gave priority na makasama ko yung Reporma…nag-lunch kami nagkumustahan kung ano yung nangyayari rito sa Abra at marami silang nai-share na mga [to be with my former partymates in Reporma…we had lunch, asked how each other is doing and talked about what is happening here in Abra, they shared a lot of] information which we would like to take up with concerned authorities,” Lacson said in an ambush interview before his town hall meeting with Abra tobacco farmers here.

Lacson’s scheduled activities in another Ilocos Region province, La Union, for Tuesday morning were also cancelled.

On Monday, Lacson was in Tarlac and Pangasinan with his vice presidential running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and one of their senatorial bets, former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.

Sotto, meanwhile, is embarking on a separate schedule from Lacson. The Senate president is currently in Zambales for an event with his partymates at the Nationalist People’s Coalition, where he serves as chairman.

*****

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PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 26, 2022

PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 26, 2022

KAYA HUWAG KALIMUTANG

IBOTO SI PING LACSON NR 5 SA BALOTA

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Mistahs troop behind Lacson in Tarlac where governor backs rival

Mistahs troop behind Lacson in Tarlac where governor backs rival

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac, Philippines — The Philippine Military Academy batch mates of presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson trooped behind him and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, as they campaigned here with a little over two weeks to go before voters shade their ballots on May 9.

Tarlac, a vote-rich province, is considered the bailiwick of the Aquino clan.

Recently, its governor, Susan Yap, endorsed the candidacies of Lacson and Sotto’s rivals, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

But during a town hall meeting at the Tarlac State University on Monday, Lacson’s PMA mistahs, including those who worked with him during his stint as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), showed him their support by accompanying him on stage.

Among them is another former PNP chief, retired Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, who served as Lacson’s spokesperson when he was still the PNP chief.

Bartolome, who hails from Tarlac, also served as PNP chief under a fellow Tarlaqueño, then-President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Retired Major Generals Rey Acop, Ray Rivera, and Dong Tabamo were also present during the town hall meeting.

Lacson likewise mentioned retired colonel turned lawyer Oscar Martinez, who was their valedictorian in the PMA Class of 1971, as well as Jun Fabros, who served in the Philippine Navy.

In his opening speech, Lacson acknowledged Bartolome’s active effort in supporting his candidacy.

“He has been switching places, going to Cotabato and back home to Tarlac, and he is continuing the same advocacies I had when I was chief PNP — that is, to discipline the ranks of the police force, eliminate corruption, and restore public trust to the PNP,” Lacson said in Filipino.

During the town hall meeting, the tandem’s preferred approach in their campaign, Lacson and Sotto stressed the reason why the public should vote for them.

Citing their decades in public service, they promised to properly implement laws crafted in the chamber they had served for so many years.

“Let us remember, once we enter our polling precincts and think about those we are going to vote for, may you be left with no other choice but to vote for the most qualified, most competent, who have the longest experience in public service and who are honest,” Lacson told Tarlaqueños.

For his part, former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, who is running for senator, urged voters not to be swayed by performances during campaign rallies in making their choices.

“Let us not be entertained by dances, bright lights. This campaign is beyond colors. It’s beyond music. This campaign is all about the future of this country,” Piñol said.

‘Silent majority’

After their town hall meeting, Lacson and Sotto paid courtesy to Tarlac City Mayor Ma. Cristina Angeles as well as Yap.

In a press conference at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol, Lacson said he and Sotto were banking on the province’s “silent majority” to help them secure votes.

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GOBYERNONG LACSON-SOTTO!

GOBYERNONG LACSON-SOTTO!

IBOTO AT BILUGAN SA BALOTA!

LACSON FOR PRESIDENT NUMERO SINGKO (5)

SOTTO FOR VICE-PRESIDENT NUMERO NUYBE (9)

HUWAG KALIMUTAN AT TANDAAN!

 

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PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 24, 2022

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HUWAG KALIMUTANG IBOTO!

TAYO NA KAY PING LACSON NA!

 

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PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 20, 2022

PING LACSON HEADLINES NGAYON, APRIL 20, 2022

KAYA HUWAG KALIMUTANG

IBOTO SI PING LACSON NR 5 SA BALOTA

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MGA NAGAWA, PLATAPORMA AT PROGRAMA NI PING LACSON!

MGA NAGAWA, PLATAPORMA AT PROGRAMA NI PING LACSON!

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Reporma Members in Aklan, Antique Throw Support Behind Lacson-Sotto

Reporma Members in Aklan, Antique Throw Support Behind Lacson-Sotto

April 20, 2022 - Members of Partido Reporma in Aklan and Antique continue to support the electoral bids of independent presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson, even after he had left the party last March.

Lacson met with members of his former party Tuesday evening following a town hall session in Kalibo, Aklan. The Reporma members had requested the meeting, he said.

"Kaya kami pumunta ng Aklan and Caluya, meron kaming candidates doon, nag-request sila kung pwedeng puntahan ko sila. Ang Reporma (members), they continue to support me. Sabi nila kaya kami nag-Reporma because of you (This is the reason we were scheduled to visit Aklan and Caluya. Some candidates from Reporma asked for our presence. They continue to support me. They told me they joined Reporma because of me)," he said.

He added their support meant much to him, adding it further emboldened him and his vice presidential bet Senate President Vicente "TIto" Sotto III to continue with their campaign until the end.

"No retreat. No surrender. No withdrawal!" Lacson noted.

Last March, Lacson announced he was leaving Reporma after its president, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, decided to shift support to another candidate. Many Reporma members at the time bolted the party to stick with Lacson.

On Tuesday, Lacson campaigned in Estancia (Iloilo) and Kalibo (Aklan) while Sotto was in Dumaguete (Negros Oriental). Both are expected to campaign together in Caluya Island in Antique and in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on Wednesday.

Lacson received a hearty welcome from residents in Estancia, Iloilo upon his arrival there Tuesday morning. He paid a courtesy call to Estancia Mayor Melina Requinto, who he noted is supporting another candidate but referred to him as "President" after he presented to her and local officials his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program.

"She was even egging the barangay chairmen who were present and majority (who were there)," Lacson noted of the mayor.

In Estancia, Lacson personally thanked his supporters and volunteers who chipped in to help residents affected by floods brought by Tropical Cyclone Agaton

He also detailed how BRAVE - his program of government that ensures funds for local government units from the provincial to the barangay level to get much-needed funds for their priority development projects.

"Yan ang essence ng BRAVE, kayo ang nakakaalam ng needs and priorities (That is the essence of BRAVE. You are the ones who know the needs and priorities of your constituents)," he said.

*****

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Lacson on Moreno’s ‘Leni withdraw’ call: I didn’t see it coming

Lacson on Moreno’s ‘Leni withdraw’ call: I didn’t see it coming

SURIGAO City – Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso went off script when he called for the withdrawal of Vice President Leni Robredo from the presidential race, taking even Sen. Panfilo Lacson by surprise.

“I didn’t know and I had no idea he would do that”, Lacson told the Inquirer on Sunday night, hours after the Easter Sunday press conference jointly held by the two men, along with a third presidential candidate, former defense chief Norberto Gonzales.

Domagoso’s chief strategist Lito Banayo also confirmed to the Inquirer that the mayor’s appeal to Robredo to drop out of the race “was not a team call but an off-the-cuff comment.”

But while Lacson didn’t join Domagoso’s call, he said he didn’t feel malice in the Manila mayor’s impromptu comments, which changed the tone of Sunday’s event from a united stand to outright hostility against the vice president, currently ranked second in pre-election surveys behind front-runner Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“In fairness to Mayor Isko, he made it clear that the ‘withdraw call’ was only his own,” Lacson said in Viber messages.

“I don’t think I was blindsided, or at least it was intentional on the part of Mayor Isko. I think he was carried away by his recollection that VP Robredo earlier asked him to do the ‘supreme sacrifice’ and withdraw,” he added.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer had argued that Robredo’s withdrawal would raise the odds of less polarizing candidates winning against Marcos, since the latter’s voting base could be driven by anti-Robredo sentiment.

Banayo said Domagoso had made the remark in response to Gonzales’ argument that Marcos Jr.’s huge lead over Robredo in the latest polls was “more an expression of dislike for VP Leni by the electorate.”

“And since the Leni partisans, including Tim Orbos and his companions called for a ‘supreme sacrifice’ so that [Marcos] Jr. can be defeated, Mayor Isko challenged VP Leni to do that sacrifice and withdraw from the race,” he said, referring to a former leader of the Domagoso volunteer group Ikaw Muna Pilipinas, who had since switched to Robredo.

But Banayo said Domagoso hadn’t merely been caught by the heat of the moment when he made the call.

“No, it was not emotional. As I have been repeatedly saying, the VP has a ceiling beyond which her numbers will not grow, which is basically in sync with what Secretary Gonzales opined. If her intent is to ensure a Marcos defeat, best for her to give way to those who might have a chance to breach her ceiling,” he said.

“Just look at the second choice options and analyze the same, as Secretary Gonzales did,” Banayo said, noting that Domagoso was the top second choice among voters.

Banayo claimed in February that Robredo’s support had a “cap” of only 14-15 percent, but in Pulse Asia’s latest survey in March, the vice president got a 24-percent voter preference to Domagoso’s 8 percent.

Lacson explained how he, Domagoso and Gonzales came to an agreement to hold the press conference.

“It was in that Manila Hotel meeting after a media forum that [Senate President Vicente] Sotto and I attended that he broached the idea of holding a joint prescon. He said he, [Sen. Manny] Pacquiao and former [presidential spokesperson Ernesto] Abella had already agreed and were inviting me and Mayor Isko to join,” Lacson recalled.

“I don’t know who made arrangements with Manila [Peninsula]. My only request was a neutral place to hold the prescon,” he said.

Pacquiao, who sent an advance party, and Abella did not appear at the press conference.

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MGA NAGAWA, PLATAPORMA AT PROGRAMA NI PING LACSON!

MGA NAGAWA, PLATAPORMA AT PROGRAMA NI PING LACSON!

KAYA HUWAG KALIMUTANG

IBOTO SI PING LACSON NR 5 SA BALOTA

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MGA ILONGGO MAGSANIB PWERSA TAYO PARA SA TOTOO AT TUNAY NA PAGBABAGO! LACSON-SOTTO SA MAYO 9!

MGA ILONGGO MAGSANIB PWERSA TAYO PARA SA TOTOO AT TUNAY NA PAGBABAGO! LACSON-SOTTO SA MAYO 9!

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Lacson: Never Too Late to Respect the Filipino Voters Lacson-Sotto Tandem on the Issues Involving the April 17, 2022 Press Conference

Lacson: Never Too Late to Respect the Filipino Voters 

Lacson-Sotto Tandem on the Issues Involving the April 17, 2022 Press Conference

April 18, 2022 - Statements of Sen. Ping Lacson and SP Tito Sotto on the issues involving the April 17, 2022 press conference

Lacson: Never Too Late to Respect the Filipino Voters

With the campaign period for the May 9 elections nearing the homestretch, it is not too late for candidates to show respect: Respect for one another, respect for the election process, and most importantly, respect for our voters.

Respect for our voters can best be shown by offering them as many choices as possible - which is why my running mate Senate President Sotto and I have made it a point not to ask other candidates to withdraw even as we maintain our stand against negative and baseless personal attacks.

Having said that, there is a whale of a difference between not making personal and baseless attacks and calling out preemptive maneuvers by some camps to have other bets withdraw - if not officially, then by their "operators."

Our country and our people are nearing a critical point in our history. We cannot afford to choose the wrong leader.

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Sotto: Upholding the Sovereignty of the Filipino Voters

When Senator Lacson and I signed a joint statement with other Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, it was to uphold the sovereignty of the Filipino voters as they choose our new leaders on May 9.

Let me reiterate that we - along with the other signatories - committed to serve in the government of whoever among us is chosen; to combine our forces against any attempt to subvert the will of the electorate by limiting their choices; and to continue with our respective campaigns to give our voters the most choices possible.

That said, it is not automatic that we share the views or statements of other candidates on matters outside the joint statement, much less agree to be bound by such views.

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