MANILA – Members of the Partido Reporma in Aklan and Antique still support the electoral bids of independent presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III even after Lacson left the party in March.
Lacson met with members of his former party after a town hall session in Kalibo, Aklan on Tuesday evening
The Reporma members had requested the meeting, he said.
“Kaya kami pumunta ng Aklan and Caluya, meron kaming candidates doon, nag-request sila kung pwedeng puntahan ko sila. Ang Reporma (members), they continue to support me. Sabi nila kaya kami nag-Reporma because of you (This is the reason we were scheduled to visit Aklan and Caluya. Some candidates from Reporma sought our presence. They continue to support me. They told me they joined Reporma because of me),” he said in a statement Wednesday.
Lacson said their support meant much to him, adding it further emboldened him and Sotto to continue with their campaign until the end.
“No retreat. No surrender. No withdrawal,” Lacson said.
In March, Lacson left Reporma after its president, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, decided to shift support to another candidate. Some Reporma members at the time bolted the party to stick with Lacson.
On Tuesday, Lacson campaigned in Estancia, Iloilo and Kalibo, Aklan while Sotto was in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.
Both are expected to campaign together in Caluya Island in Antique and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on Wednesday.
Lacson received a hearty welcome from residents of Estancia upon his arrival there Tuesday morning.
He paid a courtesy call on Estancia Mayor Melina Requinto, who he noted is supporting another candidate but referred to him as “President” after he presented to her and local officials his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program.
“She was even egging the barangay chairmen who were present and (the) majority (who were there),” Lacson said of the mayor.
Lacson thanked his supporters and volunteers In Estancia who chipped in to help residents affected by floods brought by Tropical Depression Agaton. (PNA)