Sotto, Lacson, Lapid file COCs for 2025 elections

Former senators Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III and Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson, along with reelectionist Senator Lito Lapid, have formalized their senatorial bids for the 2025 midterm elections by filing their certificates of candidacy on Wednesday.

The trio, who are members of the Macho bloc, filed their COCs at the Manila Hotel Tent City, which is part of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s senatorial slate despite Lacson running as an independent guest candidate.

Sotto and Lapid aim to push for government downsizing legislation, introduce a 14th-month pay for private sector employees, outlaw fake news and online content, expand free legal assistance programs for poor Filipinos, and promote tourism.

Lacson pledged not to avail of pork barrel allocations if elected and vowed to support President Marcos' administration's programs, aligning with his personal credo of upholding what is right and correcting what is wrong.

Sotto emphasized that the Senate presidency would depend on his colleagues' offer rather than his own lobbying efforts, stating he prefers to work as a regular senator.