Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday announced that he is stepping down as chairman and member of Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, making him an independent candidate for the upcoming elections.
"I would like to make an announcement. Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate," he said in a press conference.
According to Lacson, he is stepping down after he was informed by party president Pantaleon Alvarez that their slate in Davao del Norte, led by party secretary-general and provincial governor Edwin Jubahib, decided to endorse another presidential candidate.
"I believe that it is only decent and proper consistent with my time-honored, uncompromising principles to make this decision," said Lacson.
"To Partido Reporma, former speaker Alvarez, party secretary and Governor Jubahib, and the rest of the Davao del Norte Reporma candidates, let me tell you this: I harbor no ill-feelings towards you and no matter how short-lived our alliance may be, I will keep praying for you and your families," he added.
To members outside their Davao del Norte slate, Lacson said that he is not leaving them behind.
"I assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations. Magkakasama pa rin tayo sa laban na ito," he added.
(I assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations. We are still together in this fight.)
'I will continue'
Following his resignation from the party, Lacson said he will be an independent candidate for the 2022 polls and reiterated that he is not withdrawing from the elections.
"Like a true-blooded warrior that I am all my life, I will continue despite, 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," he said.
Lacson, who is running with Senator Vicente Sotto III, has previously stated that they are not backing out after a circulating video on YouTube claimed that they will be pulling out of their candidacy ahead of the elections.
"There is no truth to this claim," Lacson said in a another interview.
"Hihirit lang ako, kasi may mga fake news na lumalabas, mapa-YouTube, mapa-Facebook, aatras na raw kaming dalawa?" he added. "Huwag kayong maniwala. Kasi aatras lang kami sa May 9 either papunta kaming Malacañang or pauwi ng bahay."
(Let me just say this, because there are fake news coming out on Facebook and YouTube that we are backing out. Don't believe it. Because we will only pullout on May 9, either we'll go to Malacañang or going home.)
Lacson also said in a previous statement that many of his friends want him to continue the fight despite his low placement on recent pre-election surveys.
The latest pre-election survey from Pulse Asia revealed that he was behind Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senator Manny Pacquiao on the race to presidency.
Lacson saw the support of only two percent out of Pulse Asia's 2,400 respondents from February 18 to 23.
Similarly, Lacson also placed fifth on the pre-election survey carried out by the Manila Broadcasting Company-DZRH on March 12, where he saw the support of 4.7% out of the 7,566 respondents.
