Ping shuns Isko’s withdrawal call

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday doubled down against Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s calls for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the 2022 race.

In a press conference in Pilar, Capiz, Lacson said calls for Robredo to withdraw were Moreno’s alone, and that he and running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III “would not egg on” anyone to quit the race.

“I never had an idea. I didn’t see it coming. I was also surprised. [Sotto] actually whispered to me to stay on course for the purpose of the press conference, just to emphasize that someone would be withdrawing, and end all talk on withdrawal,” Lacson said.

“We strayed from the core mesaage, but I would not [interrupt] in front of [Moreno]. It would be unfair if I corrected him on the spot, to tell him that he was saying the wrong thing. In fairness to him, he even clarified that it was just him,” he added.

He said that he would not issue any apology, alluding to fellow candidate former national defense chief Norberto Gonzales’ apology to the vice president.

“I have nothing to apologize for because I did not call for VP Leni to withdraw. I just said the facts, what transpired, why unification talks failed, as early as before filing [of certificates of candidacy]. I didn’t add or embellish anything,” he said.

Lacson also dispelled the notion of backlash from Sunday’s press conference spearheaded by him, Moreno, and Gonzales.

“We weren’t ganging up on [Robredo]. The direction of the press conference was clear, to ward off disinformation attempts that we would withdraw, that we weren’t just told to withdraw, but to campaign for her, like [Gonzales] said,” the senator said.

“I don’t think there’s a backlash. At least, we penetrated the echo chambers of [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] and Robredo, and what happened in the press conference reverberated. Those who are hitting us, we know most of them are trolls. I can easily tell a troll when I see one,” he added.

He also highlighted that it was Robredo who masterminded talks of withdrawal from the race, multiple times between August and September, before the filing of candidacies and even before the vice president announced her own bid.

Prior to the press conference, Lacson met with townsfolk from northern Iloilo towns of Estancia and Batad, touting his Ilonggo heritage from Molo district in Iloilo City, as well as his aid to the town as the chief response coordinator after the onslaught of 2013’s Typhoon Yolanda.

Moreno called for Robredo to withdraw during the Easter Sunday press conference held at a Makati City hotel with Lacson and Gonzales.

The Manila mayor, like Lacson, also cited Ilonggo roots from the southern town of San Joaquin.