MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday announced his resignation from his party Partido Reporma.
“Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate,” Lacson said in a press conference in General Santos City.
According to Lacson, his decision came after Partido Reporma president former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told him that their Davao del Norte slate led by the party secretary-general and Provincial Governor Edwin Jubahib has decided to endorse another presidential candidate.
Lacson did not name which candidate will now get the endorsement of the party.
The senator meanwhile said he does not harbor any ill-feelings towards Alvarez and other “top-tier” party officials who have decided to shift their support to another candidate.
“Sa lahat ng myembro at kandidato ng Partido Reporma sa labas ng [To all members and candidates of Partido Reporma in and outside of] Davao del Norte – who joined the party because of our shared advocacy to fight graft and corruption in pursuit of good governance, all for the sake of our beloved country and people – with or without party affiliation – I am not leaving you behind,” Lacson went on.
“I assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations,” he added.
Before his resignation, Lacson served as the party’s chairman. He took his oath in July last year, days after he announced he will run for president in the 2022 polls.
Partido Reporma was Lacson’s first party since 2004, when he first sought the presidency as an independent candidate.
The party was founded by former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa in 1997. It became “dormant” after the 2004 elections and was revived in 2020 by former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who serves as its president.
With his resignation from Partido Reporma, Lacson is now again running for president without a party.
His vice presidential running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III is from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, which has yet to formally endorse Lacson as a presidential candidate.