Lacson, Sotto clarify: 'We are not asking anybody to withdraw' (Sabong News)

Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday clarified they are not part of the call for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the presidential race. Lacson issued the clarification after joining the press conference of presidential bets Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno and former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, who both called for Robredo to withdraw. Moreno, Lacson, Gonzales, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao have made a commitment not to withdraw from the presidential race in the May 2022 elections. “We are not asking anybody to withdraw. Ayaw din namin na mananawagan sila na mag-withdraw kami in the same manner,” Lacson said during an ambush interview at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. “I want to correct that impression, baka mamaya may impression na this presscon is about telling Vice President Leni to withdraw. No, not at all,” Lacson stressed. “Sa amin, walang magwi-withdraw dapat (no one should withdraw) in the same manner na hindi kami mananawagan na mag withdraw ang sinumang kandidato (that we won’t be calling for other candidates to withdraw),” he reiterated, adding that to withdraw from the race should be a personal decision. Sotto pointed out that Moreno himself said it was only his own opinion when the mayor called for Robredo to withdraw. “Sabi ni Mayor Isko, ako lang ito ha (Mayor Isko himself said, it was just his view),” Sotto said. Lacson said he hopes voters would not listen to reports or any misinformation saying one of the presidential candidates will withdraw. “Kasi persistent yan eh.. social media, maski sa mainstream media, kesyo, baka mag withdraw si Mayor Isko… yan talaga ang dominant messaging nila… parang kino-confuse ang voters (those reports are persistent especially in social media, even in mainstream media, telling Mayor Isko will withdraw… that is really the dominant messaging they impart. They are confusing the voters),” he lamented. “We have to correct over and over again. Nagsasawa na ako kaka-correct kaya mabuti na rin na ganito nangyari. Once and for all, walang magwi-withdraw at hindi kami magwi-withdraw (we are tired of correcting people that’s why it’s good we have a press conference. Once and for all, to tell people no one is withdrawing and we will not withdraw),” Lacson reiterated. Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday clarified they are not part of the call for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the presidential race. Lacson issued the clarification after joining the press conference of Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno and former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, who both called for Robredo to withdraw. Moreno, Lacson, Gonzales, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao have made a commitment not to withdraw from the presidential race in the May 2022 elections. “We are not asking anybody to withdraw. Ayaw din namin na mananawagan sila na mag-withdraw kami in the same manner,” Lacson said during an ambush interview at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. “I want to correct that impression, baka mamaya may impression na this presscon is about telling Vice President Leni to withdraw. No, not at all,” Lacson stressed. “Sa amin, walang magwi-withdraw dapat (no one should withdraw) in the same manner na hindi kami mananawagan na mag withdraw ang sinumang kandidato (that we won’t be calling for other candidates to withdraw),” he reiterated, adding that to withdraw from the race should be a personal decision. Sotto pointed out that Moreno himself said it was only his own opinion when the mayor called for Robredo to withdraw. “Sabi ni Mayor Isko, ako lang ito ha (Mayor Isko himself said, it was just his view),” Sotto said. Lacson said he hopes voters would not listen to reports or any misinformation saying one of the presidential candidates will withdraw. “Kasi persistent yan eh.. social media, maski sa mainstream media, kesyo, baka mag withdraw si Mayor Isko… yan talaga ang dominant messaging nila… parang kino-confuse ang voters (those reports are persistent especially in social media, even in mainstream media, telling Mayor Isko will withdraw… that is really the dominant messaging they impart. They are confusing the voters),” he lamented. “We have to correct over and over again. Nagsasawa na ako kaka-correct kaya mabuti na rin na ganito nangyari. Once and for all, walang magwi-withdraw at hindi kami magwi-withdraw (we are tired of correcting people that’s why it’s good we have a press conference. Once and for all, to tell people no one is withdrawing and we will not withdraw),” Lacson reiterated.