The Partido Reporma party led by its chairman, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, on Tuesday, Nov. 2 said the party is gaining ground in Mindanao.
This as hundreds of local leaders from Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon vowed to support Lacson’s 2022 presidential bid in tandem with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
The new allies from Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon manifested their support through a mass oathtaking rite at the Apple Tree Resort in Opol, Misamis Oriental with Partido Reporma president and reelectionist Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez last week.
A similar ceremony took place in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental where a total of 144 leaders and supporters swore their allegiance to Partido Reporma. They committed help to organize widespread ground campaign activities for the Lacson-Sotto ticket.
Alvarez has been dividing his time between Luzon and Mindanao recently to gather more advocates who would rally behind Lacson and Sotto. Both candidates are running under the political mantra of reforming the national government through village empowerment.
Alvarez had a breakfast meeting with incumbent Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy and reelectionist City Councilor Romeo Calizo, a retired general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to discuss a possible alliance.
Uy used to be a stalwart for the Liberal Party but defected to the ruling PDP-Laban in 2016. He is currently running for mayor in Cagayan de Oro City after serving three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.
Alvarez has been credited by his party mates for almost singlehandedly dismantling PDP-Laban forces in his home province of Davao del Norte. At present, active membership for Partido Reporma stands at nearly 10,000 and counting.
The former House Speaker has been working closely with Partido Reporma secretary-general Edwin Jubahib, the incumbent governor of Davao del Norte, to further expand their party’s presence in Mindanao and strengthen support for the Lacson-Sotto tandem in the south.