Ping Lacson announces bid for 2022 presidency with Tito Sotto running for VP

Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III formally announce their bids for candidacy for president and vice president in the upcoming 2022 elections. 

The tandem launched their campaign online, a first in the Philippines, in front of a hybrid of an in-person and online audience.

The two are running with the tagline, "K.K.K" standing for "Katapangan, Katapatan, at Kakayahan."

Clad in plaid shirts and jeans, Lacson and Sotto vowed to fix the country's problems under the current administration.

Lacson added that the tandem is working on a "road map" for the Philippines' COVID-19 recovery.

Showing support for Sotto are Eat Bulaga co-hosts Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, musical artist Homer Flores, and Sec. Gringo Honasan. Meanwhile, Robina Gokongwei-Pei, Teresita Ang See, and former Executive Secretary Renato De Villa also endorsed Lacson during the launch.

This is Lacson's second time to run for president after his first bid in 2004, where former president Gloria Arroyo won.

Lacson served as the Philippine National Police chief under Joseph Estrada and was appointed by the late Benigno Aquino II as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery where he oversaw the rehabilitation efforts for provinces affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

Meanwhile, VP candidate Tito Sotto started as a TV host for Eat Bulaga and broke into the political scene as Vice Mayor of Quezon City. He was first elected to Senate in 1992 and has served four terms and was elected Senate president in 2018.