SENATOR PANFILO “Ping” M. Lacson, Sr. on Thursday announced that he will now be running for president as an independent candidate after leaving Partido Ng Demokratikong Reporma, which announced on the same day its endorse-ment of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo.
“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,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Lacson said he was informed on Wednesday by the party’s president, Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez, “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.”
The senator took his oath as the party’s chairman in July, a few days after he officially announced his candidacy for the country’s top seat. He has been a member of the Partido Reporma, his first party, since 2004.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George M. Garcia told reporters in a media briefing Thursday that Mr. Lacson’s party affiliation will not change in the ballot.
Former House representative Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo, the party’s spokesperson, and several other party members have also resigned to support Mr. Lacson’s presidential candidacy.
The senator and former police chief said he has no intention of backing out from the race.
“Like a true-blooded warrior that I am all my life, I will continue this fight in pursuit of my quest to serve my country and our people, as your Chief Executive — if God and the Filipino people will it, come May 9, 2022.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza