Senator Panfilo Lacson will now run for President as an independent candidate after he resigned as chairman of Partido Reporma.
“Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido Ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate for the presidency in the upcoming May 2022 elections,” Lacson said.
Before his resignation, Lacson was the standard bearer of the political party led by former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Lacson quit his post after he was informed by Alvarez on Wednesday that their slate in Davao del Norte, led by the party secretary-general and Provincial Governor Edwin Jubahib, has decided to endorse another presidential candidate.
“Considering that it is at the behest of these top-tier officials that I was recruited as a member and the party’s standard-bearer and thereafter elected as its chairman, I believe it is only decent and proper—consistent with my time-honored uncompromising principles— to make this decision,” Lacson said.
“I will continue this fight in pursuit of my quest to serve our country and our people, as your chief executive—if God and the Filipino people will it, come May 9, 2022,” he said.
Lacson said he bore no ill feelings towards Alvarez and Jubahib–and the rest of the Davao del Norte Reporma candidates.
While he is no longer a member of Partido Reporma, Lacson guaranteed he would leave behind the party’s members and candidates who are outside 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 assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations,” he said.
With less than 50 days to go in the official campaign period, Lacson and his loyal group of supporters are aware of the mounting challenges ahead but said the fighting spirit among the group is still alive and burning.
Lacson spokesman Ashley Acedillo said they are not disheartened by this development. He believes such adversity would only make their group stronger with their loyal allies and believers solidifying their support for Lacson.
Acedillo, who resigned as party spokesman, said he would keep serving Lacson as his official mouthpiece.
Other members of Partido Reporma have also announced their resignations from the party and decided to stay with Lacson and join his cause, includingRafael Rodriguez, chairman of PDR-Cavite chapter. Rodriguez tendered his resignation hours after Lacson made his announcement.
Lacson-Sotto Campaign Head of Communications Jing Magsaysay said this development only highlighted the admirable qualities of Lacson as a leader.
“We will continue to tell his (Lacson’s) story. A story of courage and honor. The story of every Filipino. Now that there is no encumbrance of the party, that story can be told more effectively,” Magsaysay told campaign team members.
“The political landscape does not dictate preference, principles do. Only one person embodies the principles, the character and the vision that this country needs. His name is Ping Lacson,” Magsaysay added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates who resigned from their party to run as an independent will remain under the party’s affiliation.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia made the clarification after Lacson resigned as chairman and member of Partido Reporma.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, he is not an independent candidate,” Garcia said.
He said candidates who filed their certificate of nomination and acceptance will stay even if they change affiliations after they filed their candidacy.
“Whatever is your party at the time of filing of the candidacy stays. Your CONA stays,” Garcia said.
“Whatever change in your affiliation after the filing of your candidacy, after the period, doesn’t matter. What will be the basis always of determining your party is your party at the time of the filing of the candidacy,” he added.
This means that Lacson’s name will still be listed as a candidate of Partido Reporma on the official ballots, which the Comelec has been printing since January.
“As to how he will get election returns and such other privileges by law and the Commission, that is an internal matter on the part of the party,” Garcia said.
“Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido Ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate for the presidency in the upcoming May 2022 elections,” Lacson said.
Before his resignation, Lacson was the standard bearer of the political party led by former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Lacson quit his post after he was informed by Alvarez on Wednesday that their slate in Davao del Norte, led by the party secretary-general and Provincial Governor Edwin Jubahib, has decided to endorse another presidential candidate.
“Considering that it is at the behest of these top-tier officials that I was recruited as a member and the party’s standard-bearer and thereafter elected as its chairman, I believe it is only decent and proper—consistent with my time-honored uncompromising principles—to make this decision,” Lacson said.
“I will continue this fight in pursuit of my quest to serve our country and our people, as your chief executive – if God and the Filipino people will it, come May 9, 2022,” he said.
Lacson said he bore no ill feelings towards Alvarez and Jubahib—and the rest of the Davao del Norte Reporma candidates.
While he is no longer a member of Partido Reporma, Lacson guaranteed he would leave behind the party’s members and candidates who are outside 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 assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations,” he said.
With less than 50 days to go in the official campaign period, Lacson and his loyal group of supporters are aware of the mounting challenges ahead, but said the fighting spirit among the group is still alive and burning.
Lacson spokesman Ashley Acedillo said they are not disheartened by this development. He believes such adversity would only make their group stronger with their loyal allies and believers solidifying their support for Lacson.
Acedillo, who resigned as party spokesman, said he would keep serving Lacson as his official mouthpiece.
Other members of Partido Reporma have also announced their resignations from the party and decided to stay with Lacson and join his cause, includingRafael Rodriguez, chairman of PDR-Cavite chapter. Rodriguez tendered his resignation hours after Lacson made his announcement.
Lacson-Sotto Campaign Head of Communications Jing Magsaysay said this development only highlighted the admirable qualities of Lacson as a leader.
“We will continue to tell his (Lacson’s) story. A story of courage and honor. The story of every Filipino. Now that there is no encumbrance of the party, that story can be told more effectively,” Magsaysay told campaign team members.
“The political landscape does not dictate preference, principles do. Only one person embodies the principles, the character and the vision that this country needs. His name is Ping Lacson,” Magsaysay added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates who resigned from their party to run as an independent will remain under the party’s affiliation.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia made the clarification after Lacson resigned as chairman and member of Partido Reporma.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, he is not an independent candidate,” Garcia said.
He said candidates who filed their certificate of nomination and acceptance will stay even if they change affiliations after they filed their candidacy.
“Whatever is your party at the time of filing of the candidacy stays. Your CONA stays,” Garcia said.
“Whatever change in your affiliation after the filing of your candidacy, after the period, doesn’t matter. What will be the basis always of determining your party is your party at the time of the filing of the candidacy,” he added.
This means that Lacson’s name will still be listed as a candidate of Partido Reporma on the official ballots, which the Comelec has been printing since January.
“As to how he will get election returns and such other privileges by law and the Commission, that is an internal matter on the part of the party,” Garcia said.