Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar will run for senator under the Partido Reporma party, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo M. Lacson confirmed Saturday, Nov. 13.
Eleazar, who also retires Saturday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, was the sixth PNP chief in the Duterte administration.
Both Lacson and Eleazar are graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Lacson was the PNP chief during the. Estrada administration.
This comes as Lacson, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer, and his running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III, will have some important announcements to make during their trip to Pampanga on Sunday, Nov. 14, according to their political camps.
The two are scheduled to visit the province for a press conference with the members of the media before their seventh “Online Kumustahan” activity at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando City.
Expected to come out of those discussions are major changes in their political ticket following the official announcement of Partido Reporma senatorial aspirant Paolo “Powee” Capino of his voluntary exit from the 2022 Senate race.
“I am officially announcing my withdrawal from the Senate race. The last survey which included my name in it, means my chances of winning are slim to none. I recognize the need to further introduce myself and my advocacies,” Capino tweeted on Friday (Nov. 12).
The remaining Partido Reporma senatorial candidates Dr. Minguita Padilla and Monsour del Rosario will be joining Lacson and Sotto in Pampanga, as well as former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, who is running for senator under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Capino said his withdrawal of candidacy would allow the Lacson-Sotto tandem to “strengthen its senatorial lineup further” as he plans to focus on his management duties for his digital communications company Advocates Philippines.
“I thank Senator Ping Lacson and Senator Tito Sotto for giving the PWD (people with disabilities) sector a voice in their Senate slate. I am confident that they will continue to advocate for the rights of the PWD sector,” Capino said.
Lacson and Sotto earlier held an “Online Kumustahan” activity in Mexico, Pampanga last Oct. 29.
The Partido Reporma standard-bearer appeared in person with Capino and Padilla, while Sotto and Del Rosario joined via Zoom.
The vice presidential candidate, who chairs the NPC, will be appearing on-site in San Fernando City with Lacson and three of their senatorial candidates this time around. Lacson and Sotto will be going to Pampanga after making a quick visit to Negros Occidental, this afternoon.