Robredo camp: We don’t have P800 million to give to anyone

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo said Friday they don't have P800 million to pay anybody in exchange of getting support for Robredo's 2022 presidential bid.

Lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez, spokesperson for Robredo, issued the statement after Senator Panfilo Lacson claimed earlier in the day that the camp of Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez had asked for an P800-million budget for local campaign bets of Partido Reporma.

Alvarez is Reporma president. 

"Our campaign thrives on initiative and volunteerism, and we certainly do not have P800 million pesos to give away to anyone," Gutierrez said.

"The support for Vice President Leni's presidential bid is anchored on the hope that she can reform government and bring a better future for all Filipinos," he added.

Alvarez has since denied asking P800 million from Lacson, who resigned as Reporma chairman and member on Thursday. 

Alvarez announced Reporma's support for Robredo after Lacson's resignation from Reporma. 

Alvarez said the party has enough resources to finance the campaign of its local candidates, and that the amount he gave to Lacson was a funding requirement for payment of poll watchers that the party will need to man precincts on election day. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News