spot_img
28.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Alvarez quits ruling party

- Advertisement -

Ex-Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Sunday he had resigned from the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan to pursue a voters’ education campaign and revive the non-mainstream political party Reporma.

He thanked PDP-Laban’s president, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, for allowing him to serve as the secretary general of PDP-Laban for almost half a decade.

He sought the understanding of Pimentel as he was constrained “to tender his irrevocable resignation from his position and membership in PDP-Laban effective immediately.”

He said he resigned from the party because he “intends to commit and pursue a voter’s education campaign for Filipinos given the importance of the 2022 elections.”

“Unfortunately, serving as a ranking officer and member of PDP-Laban while simultaneously handling this advocacy may be misconstrued by critics as politicking by the party presently in power,” said Alvarez.

- Advertisement -

He appreciated the party’s efforts in bringing to the attention of the nation the importance of empowering local governments as a prerequisite for a strong republic.

He expressed gratitude to the legacy left behind by whom he called “Tatay,” the late Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

He thanked PDP-Laban for its support during the 2016 and 2019 elections, adding “the party’s assistance for those campaigns that led to historic electoral victories cannot be understated.”

He said he accepted the offer of former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa to lead as chairman of the Reporma party that they would revive.

Reporma was not affiliated with any personality reportedly seeking the presidency, Alvarez said.

“This way, the voter’s education campaign can proceed, and rightly be perceived as politically neutral without risking a possible backlash against PDP-Laban.”

Alvarez was removed from his position in a surprise coup d'etat by House members on the day of President Rodrigo Duterte's third State-of-the-Nation Address in July 2018 and was replaced by former President and then-Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Duterte in October 2018 said his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, had a hand in Alvarez's ouster.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles