Tito Sotto Considering Run for Vice President

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday he was considering running for vice president in the 2022 elections and would support his colleague, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, should the latter run for president.

Sotto, the third highest government position in the country, said he would run for vice president if the position would allow him to do more in addressing the country's problems.

"The Office of the Vice President is something else. I have to admit, I am thinking about it," he said in an ANC interview.

"(I will run) if we can upgrade the vice president into something really (prominent). For example, if the vice president would be handling the problem on illegal drugs and drug abuse," he added when asked what will make him run for the position," he said.

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Sotto also said that if he decides to run for vice president, he would support the presidential candidacy of Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

"I know his capabilities, I know what he can do for the country. If he runs for president, I will support him," he said. Lacson has yet to announce his intention to run for president next year.

Sotto statistically placed second in the list of the preferred vice presidential candidates in the 2022 elections, according to the Feb. 22 to Mar. 3 Pulse Asia survey, behind Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Sotto said he might announce his plans for the 2022 polls by July or August this year.