Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, March 14, that he is supporting Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III for vice president in the May 9 polls.
Lacson is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, which Sotto chairs.
The governor said while he is supporting Vice President Leni Robredo for president, the NPC is pushing for its member to back Sotto.
Lacson said he explained to Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who is running as Robredo’s vice president, during his visit to Negros on Friday that in a meeting of the NPC on March 7 the party really pushed for Sotto.
Pangilinan understood his position and his wife, Sharon Cuneta, said Sotto is like her daddy also so she is happy NPC is supporting him, Lacson added.
The governor said he will have to remind the other NPC members in Negros Occidental of the party position.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer has said 28 Negros Occidental mayors are supporting the presidential bid of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Asked if he can convince more Negros Occidental mayors to support Robredo, Lacson said “we’ll see, as I already said before I respect their stand and we all know that they have also committed to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer.”
Robredo’s commitment to building the Iloilo-Guimaras-Negros Bridge and the restoration of the Negros Island Region are programs that we are aspiring for, Lacson said.
Those two will have a big impact on Negros Occidental, he added.
The members of the Robredo camp have their feet on the ground and are very aware that a lot of work needs to be done to win.
“But they are very inspired and very hopeful that things can turn around,” he said.
“About this time in 2016 President Digong was running fourth” but he won so there is hope, Lacson said.
Lacson said he will campaign for Robredo.*