Partido Reporma founder De Villa: I will stick with Ping

Partido Reporma founder and chairman emeritus Renato de Villa on Friday said continues to back Senator Panfilo Lacson’s presidential bid after party president Pantaleon Alvarez shifted his support to Vice President Leni Robredo.

“As an original endorser of Sen. Ping Lacson for President, let me further say: I will stick with Ping and continue to endorse and support him,” De Villa was quoted as saying in a statement released by Lacson’s camp.

“Like a true soldier in combat, I hope that those fighting for him in this political battle will continue the fight and not leave him behind,” he added.

The Partido Reporma stalwart admitted that he was also surprised by the resignation of Lacson as chairman and member of the party, as well as Alvarez’s endorsement of Robredo’s bid as he had no “inking that such an unfortunate scenario would happen to our new party.”

However, De Villa said he cannot do anything about these decisions anymore.

“Obviously, I cannot do anything about it anymore as I consider both Ping and Bebot as mature politicians and capable of making  decisions based on personal conviction,” he said.

Eleazar supports Lacson

Senatorial aspirant and former PNP chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said Friday he would remain under Partido Reporma, but will continue supporting Lacson's presidential bid. 

Eleazar said he "accord(s) an equal consideration for the Partido Reporma that accommodated and arranged to provide me a slot in its senatorial line-up as a substitute candidate—to which I am duty-bound to adhere to."

"Therefore, I choose to remain under the Partido Reporma and continuously be a part of its advocacy of working for clean and good governance that is also sensitive to the plight of the Filipino people," he said.

He said he respects the decision of his party but "I also made it clear with my party leaders that my support remains with Sen. Lacson in my personal capacity—a decision which the Partido Reporma respects."

Eleazar thanked Partido Reporma for understanding his decision to continue supporting Lacson who he looked up to even when he was still in the Philippine National Police.

Eleazar has been saying that it was Lacson who inspired him to enter the political arena.

Alvarez shifted his support for to Robredo’s presidential bid.

Ahead of Alvarez’s announcement, Lacson resigned as member and chairman of Partido Reporma but vowed to pursue his presidential bid as an independent.

Earlier in the day, Lacson claimed that Alvarez’s decision to abandon him was because of the P800 million campaign funds for Reporma’s local candidates which he failed to provide.

Alvarez has since denied Lacson’s claim. — Hana Bordey, Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ/AOL, GMA News