Lacson quits Partido Reporma, to pursue prexy bid as independent candidate

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Thursday said he has resigned as chairman and member of Partido Reporma and will instead pursue his presidential bid as an independent candidate.

In a press conference here, Lacson said party president Pantaleon Alvarez and party secretary general Edwin Jubahib have decided to support another presidential candidate for the 2022 elections.

"Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate for the presidency in the upcoming May 2022 elections," Lacson said.

"Considering that it is at the behest of these top-tier officials that I was recruited as a member and the party’s standard-bearer and thereafter elected as its chairman, I believe it is only decent and proper — consistent with my time-honored uncompromising principles — to make this decision."

Asked on the presidential candidate Reporma will now support, Lacson said it is better for the party itself to make the announcement.

He, however, said he  “harbor no ill feelings” toward Alvarez and Jubahib. 

"To Partido Reporma President, former Speaker Alvarez, Secretary-General/Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib — and the rest of the Davao del Norte Reporma candidates — let me tell you this: I harbor no ill-feelings towards you and anyone who may hereafter opt to join them in their new choice of a presidential candidate," he said.

In a statement, Alvarez said Partido Reporma is now endorsing the presidential candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo in the May 2022 elections.

In an interview with GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo, Alvarez said he  decided to shift support to another candidate after listening to party members.

"Siyempre as a leader, kailangan ko namang makinig doon sa mga kasamahan ko. Nakapagpasya sila, kinausap ako na kung puwede ay humanap kami ng isang kandidato na nakikita natin na yung karamihan ng pilipino ay may tiwala na suportahan," he said.

(As a leader I need to listen to our members. They have decided and asked me if we could look for a candidate who has the support and trust of majority of Filipinos.)

Lacson said he would not leave those who joined Reporma because of his advocacy against corruption.

"I am not leaving you behind. I assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations. Magkakasama pa rin tayo sa laban na ito. Tulad ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, tuloy ang laban hanggang sa dulo!" he said.

Now that he is running his presidential bid without a party, Lacson said he is "more relieved than disappointed," noting that he is used to working independently.

He said his resignation from the party will not affect the funding of his campaign as most of the resources used for his bid came from his friends.

"Nothing will change. For the past several months, yung funds na pumapasok sa akin, yun ang aming nase-share sa partido," Lacson said.

(Nothing will change. For the last several months, the funds that were given to me were shared to the party.)

Surprised

Vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III admitted that he was surprised by Lacson's announcement.

"It doesn't change anything as far as I am concerned... Well, I am surprised of the announcement. I was not expecting it but perhaps that could be the best thing to do as far as our presidential candidate is concerned," Sotto said in the same press conference.

Sotto, chairman of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), also said there was no formal alliance between the NPC and Reporma on the conduct of a clean and honest 2022 elections.

Although he is not a member of Reporma, senatorial candidate Manny Piñol who is being endorsed by the Lacson and Sotto tandem, said he will not abandon their ticket.

"Aside from that, I believe in the advocacy of Senator Ping Lacson and nothing will change,"  Pinol said.

"Kami ni Tito Sen, hindi kami nang-iiwan ng kaibigan," he added.

(It is not our attitude to abandon our friend.)

Apart from Lacson, Reporma spokesperson Ashley Acedillo and Partido Reporma Cavite Chapter chairman Rafael Rodriguez also left the party.

"Our collective stand is in line with the decision of our presidential candidate, Sen. Ping Lacson, to resign from the Party and push through with his presidential aspiration as an independent candidate. We shall continue to support Sen. Ping Lacson in his quest for presidency," Rodriguez said.

Lacson took his oath as chairman of Partido Reporma on July 29 last year, saying his advocacies — people’s sovereignty and democracy, decentralization and devolution of powers — are aligned with those of the party.  

Acedillo said he will now serve as official spokesperson of Lacson's presidential campaign.

Good for the people

In a separate ambush interview in Bulacan, presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said it is good for Filipinos that Lacson continued his presidential bid.

“Si Senator Ping Lacson is an asset of our country. Mas maraming magagaling na kandidato tulad ni Senator Ping Lacson, mas maraming option itong mga kababayan nating Pilipino,” Moreno said.

“I’m happy that Senator Lacson continue to participate in the campaign as candidate for president kasi maganda din siyang option ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino,” he added.

The Aksyon Demokratiko bet said he “feels bad” over the situation.

“I feel bad on the other hand kasi— basta tayo hindi tayo nang-iiwan. Hindi tayo, hangga't maari, tuloy ang laban. Mahirap ‘yung laban, hindi ko naman ‘yan ikinukubli sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.

Moreno also took note that those backing presidential candidates former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo are big names in politics.

“Nadaan ako sa Calumpit, nadaan ako sa Hagonoy, karimarim ‘yung sitwasyon ng mga kababayan natin sa bahaging ito ng Bulacan,” he said, adding that there seems to be a storm due to the flooding in the area.

“So these are the same people, itong malalaking politiko na ito, ang siyang namuno sa atin noong nagdaang panahon,” he later added.

The Manila mayor also wished Lacson well in his campaign.

“Again, I am happy. I wish Senator Lacson all the good health, patience, and wisdom to continue the race at sa ganoon ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino maraming mapagpipilian pa bukod sa akin o bukod sa kanya,” he said.—KBK/AOL/RSJ, GMA News