Partido Reporma still supports Sotto amid switch to Robredo —Alvarez

TAGUM, Davao del Norte — Partido Reporma is still backing Senate President Vicente Sotto III for vice president after switching its support to Vice President Leni Robredo from Senator Panfilo Lacson in the presidential race.

This was clarified by Partido Reporma president and Davao del Norte lawmaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday.

"Sotto [is our vice presidential candidate]. Solid kami dito kay Tito Sotto. Maraming bagay [kaya solid kami sa kanya], matagal na kaming magkaibigan nyan at ka-brad ko yan sa Mason," Alvarez said in a chance interview after his party's joint press conference with Robredo where they announced their endorsement her presidential run.

(We are solid for Tito Sotto because of a lot of things. He is a longtime friend, and a brother in the Masonry.)

"We will launch a Le-Ti, Leni-Tito," he added.

Alvarez also said he is still hopeful that Sotto can win the vice presidency even if the Senate President is trailing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in pre-election polls for vice presidential bets.

"Malaki, malaki, malaki. Of all the vice presidential candidates, malaki and tsansa ni Senate President Tito Sotto. Pipilitin naming manalo siya dito," Alvarez said.

(Senator Sotto has big chances of winning among all vice presidential bets. We will really work hard to make him win here.)

Alvarez added that there are no ill feelings between him and Lacson.

Robredo also said Thursday that supporters backing split ticket tandems are inevitable in every election, but has repeatedly stressed support for her running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan. — BM, GMA News