The offer for Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to withdraw from the presidential race did not come from the camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, her spokesman stated.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ “The Source” on Monday, Barry Gutierrez stated that their campaign has made no effort to contact Lacson since the beginning of the campaign season in February.

“I do not know who talked to Senator Lacson…but it certainly did not come from our campaign,” Gutierrez stated.

Lacson stated at a forum last Saturday that he was approached in Pampanga with “a proposal.”

“Alam mo ang proposal niya sa akin? Senator, kaya namin paatrasin si Kiko at ipasok si Senate president bilang vice president ni Leni basta mag-withdraw ka lang (“Do you know what the proposal was? Senator, we can persuade Kiko to quit and make way for the Senate president as Robredo’s vice president if you withdraw),” he stated.

Lacson stated on Monday that it was former Quezon City mayor Brigido “Jun” Simon Jr. who wanted him to withdraw in March.

Gutierrez, on the other hand, stated that Simon was not allowed to speak on behalf of Robredo’s campaign.

“If he indeed talked to Senator Lacson, then that is his personal initiative. Our position is clear, VP Leni’s choice for vice president is Sen. Kiko Pangilinan,” he stated.

“It’s no secret that prior to the October 7 declaration of the vice president, there were conversations happening. But ever since the official campaign started, to my knowledge, there has been no conversation…no active efforts. The focus has been really on the campaign of VP Leni for president and Senator Kiko for vice president. So, yes, definitely there has been no recent effort to talk to him coming from our end,” he added.

“I’m not discounting the possibility that there might be other people, you know, talking to different camps, but again that’s not coming from us” he continued.

Before entering the presidential campaign, Robredo tried to establish an unified opposition ticket.