Campaign expenses, not ratings, behind Alvarez's shift of support, says Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday said the reason behind Partido Reporma's shift of support was not survey ratings but his failure to contribute P800 million to the campaign funds of the party's local candidates.

"If pre-election surveys was his primary reason for switching his support, I don't believe it because like me, Mayor Isko [Moreno], and Sen. [Manny] Pacquiao, his newly chosen candidate is also lagging far behind the survey leader," Lacson said in a Viber message to reporters, referring to Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, Partido Reporma's president.

"Time to call a spade a spade. It was actually more about the issue of campaign expenses for their local candidates. His chief of staff was asking for 800 million pesos in additional funding which I honestly told him I cannot produce."

Sought for comment, Alvarez denied Lacson's claim.

"That's not true. I never asked funding requirements from him for our local candidates," Alvarez told GMA News Online in a text message.

"We can very well fund our own candidates."

Alvarez said Lacson may have been referring to funding requirements for Partido Reporma's poll watchers on election day.

Lacson, meanwhile, reiterated that he has no ill feelings towards Alvarez over his and the party's decision to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo's presidential run in the 2022 elections. The party's move prompted Lacson to resign as chairman and member of the group.

"It is better that he both stop talking about this but if he insists to explain his action, I'll be prompted to respond to correct his statements," Lacson said.

In an ANC interview earlier in the day, Alvarez reiterated that his decision to endorse Robredo was because he knows that the presidential race will be a head-to-head fight between her and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is leading pre-election surveys. 

'Money politics'

But in a tweet, Lacson lamented the "vicious cycle of revenge" among politicians because of “money politics.”

"As long as ‘money politics’ dominates our elections, it will be a vicious ‘cycle of revenge’ between candidates and voters: voters having a field day during the campaign period and candidates exacting vengeance for three or six years of victory. Kawawang Pilipinas," he said.

Meanwhile, Partido Reporma senatorial candidate Dra. Miguita Padilla said she will continue supporting Lacson’s presidency and will still pursue her Senate bid in support of their shared advocacies and principles.

“I will just keep supporting Senator Lacson whatever it is he decides to do. And so, right now, I’m not changing. Hindi ako nag-iiba ng aking presidente. Kay Senator Ping Lacson pa rin ako kasi hindi naman siya umaatras sa pagka-presidente,” she said.

(I will just keep supporting Senator Lacson whatever it is he decides to do. And so, right now, I’m not changing. I am not switching to any presidential candidate. I am still for Senator Ping Lacson because he is not withdrawing from the presidential race.)

In a statement Thursday, former Makati Representative Monsour del Rosario, however, announced that he will toe the party line and will now back the presidential bid of Robredo.

Former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, who is running for the Senate as substitute candidate of Partido Reporma, has yet to issue a statement on the developments.  —KBK, GMA News