SENATOR Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, formally announced that they are running for the top government posts in the 2022 national elections.

Lacson will be seeking the presidency for the second time while Sotto will be running as his vice president. They are the first tandem to announce their candidacy for the upcoming elections.

Sotto and Lacson were accompanied by their wives and children. A few supporters were also present in the hall while others attended the launching virtually.

In his speech, Sotto vowed to address corruption, poverty and healthcare.

He said he will continue his advocacy to fight illegal drugs and drug abuse as well as pursue a medical scholarship program and promote the mental health welfare of the Filipinos.

“Marami sa atin hindi na alam kung kanino na magtitiwala o ano na ang paniniwalaan marahil dumating na tayo sa punto na hindi na natin kayang ipagsawalang bahala na lang ang mga nangyayari sa ating gobyerno, ekonomiya,” said Sotto.

“Tama na, kailangan na nating tumugon kailangan nating umaksyon, kailangan na nating magsanib pwersa upang mapigilan at maitama ang mali. Ito na ang simula,” he added.

Lacson, for his part, called for a “united citizenry” in order for the country to overcome the challenges it is currently facing due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He said their tandem is highly capable of addressing the country’s problems brought about by the pandemic such as unemployment, poverty, hunger, illegal drugs and the territorial issues which “carried Filipinos into hopelessness.”

He vowed to hold those involved in illegal activities liable “whether they were close friends or not.”

“We are nearing (the) crossroads of our nation’s modern history and we cannot afford to use the wrong direction in charting the course of our nation in the next six years,” said Lacson.

“This is where Tito Sotto and I intend to stir our country from despair to hope, from apathy to empathy, from fear to trust, from poverty to prosperity, from self-pity to dignity. The Filipino deserves no less,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)