DAVAO TWIST Former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez welcomes Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday to his province with an endorsement of her presidential candidacy after his party, Partido Reporma, withdrew backing for its standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. The senator says he holds no ill feelings toward Alvarez and the party for the shift in support. —VP LENI MEDIA BUREAU
MANILA, Philippines — The endorsement of former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other Partido Reporma party officials in Davao del Norte for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo is a “huge symbolic boost” to her campaign, her spokesperson said Friday.
“The fact that the leaders from Davao del Norte, a province that VP Leni placed third in in 2016, is a huge symbolic boost—as well as a practical one—to the campaign,” Robredo’s spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, told ANC in an interview.
“The fact that they were willing to make a shift even though it was a difficult decision as they themselves have put in their statement and the fact that they are doing this because they think it serves the greater good in this election, I think, again, is a very, very important message to convey to other leaders, other Filipinos who at this stage in the campaign, 45 days before the election, are contemplating where they should throw their support behind,” he added.
80% of Davao del Norte votes
Alvarez, in a separate ANC interview, said their shift of support can help deliver 80 percent of Davao del Norte votes for Robredo. The province has over 600,000 registered voters as of 2019.
“Lilinawin ko lang na yung pag-support namin—ng Reporma—Davao del Norte lang po yun. Kasi di naman namin hawak yung desisyon ng ibang Reporma sa ibang probinsya,” Alvarez, meanwhile, clarified.
However, he said his allies in Davao del Norte are calling up “friends” in other provinces to join them in supporting Robredo’s bid for the presidency.
Alvarez, a former representative of Davao del Norte, earlier announced his support for Robredo’s presidential bid, saying he wants to continue his fight against the Marcos dictatorship.
Alvarez is the president of Partido Reporma, which earlier endorsed one of Robredo’s rivals, Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson has since left the party after he was informed by Alvarez that he and other Partido Reporma leaders in Davao del Norte will back another presidential candidate.
‘Game changer’?
Meanwhile, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, described Alvarez’ shift of support to Robredo as a “game changer.”
Si Speaker Alvarez ay humingi ng tawad at pinatawad. Ganyan ang simula ng healing at unity.
Bukod pa rito, ayon sa Magdalo survey, Davao region ang weakest area ni VP Leni. So, surely this defection is a game changer!#IpanaloNaNatinIto#TeamLeniKiko
— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) March 24, 2022
“Si Speaker Alvarez ay humingi ng tawad at pinatawad. Ganyan ang simula ng healing at unity,” Trillanes, who is seeking a Senate comeback under Robredo’s slate, said in a tweet on Friday.
“Bukod pa rito, ayon sa Magdalo survey, Davao region ang weakest area ni VP Leni. So, surely this defection is a game changer!” Trillanes added.