Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (third from left) and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (left) are sworn in by former Defense Secretary Renato De Villa as Partido Reporma chairman and president, respectively. Also in photo is former Makati City Rep. Monsour dela Rosario (right).
After joining Demokratikong Partido Reporma (DP) as its chairman today, July 29, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson is seeking alliances with other political parties as he seeks to replace the Duterte administration in the forthcoming 2022 national elections.
‘’We are open to alliances with other political parties who may be willing to work with us for change for the betterment of our country and people,’’ Lacson said.
This developed as Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said officials of his party want to invite Lacson to a dialogue before October when many NPC officials and members are at the National Capital Region (NCR).
Lacson confirmed Sotto’s invitation, adding that ‘’we are open to a dialogue with me after we have filed our certificates of candidacy in October.’’
‘’That being said, we are open to alliances with other political parties who may be willing to work with us for change for the betterment of our country and people,’’ he stressed.
A Lacson-Sotto presidential and vice presidential tandem is being primed for the 2022 elections.
Lacson conceded that his political ambitions are a big challenge.
‘’While I have mixed feelings kung ano ba itong pinasukan ko (about what I have decided to do) - I am ready and prepared, along with SP (Senate President) to face the many challenges, including the looming ones that we haven't discussed yet but I have full knowledge of - like a most likely power shortage middle of next year, the depressing "educational crisis" confronting our young generation of Filipinos to name some,’’ he added.
Lacson took his oath as DP chairman before party founder and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, while former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez took his oath as party president.
Alvarez is a former political ally of President Duterte. Before joining Reporma, he was the secretary general of PDP-Laban, the chief executive's political party.
"My advocacies are well-aligned with those of Reporma like people’s sovereignty and democracy, decentralization and devolution of powers, social justice responsibility, strong economic foundation, environmental awareness, voters’ education, among others," Lacson said.
Reporma was founded by former Defense Secretary de Villa in 1997. It aims to "continue and improve the landmark reforms achieved during the Ramos administration that broke up monopolies and leveled the playing field for the improvement of public service, progress of the economy, and the benefit of all Filipinos."
It became dormant after the 2004 elections and was revived in 2020 by former Speaker Alvarez.