Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday disclosed that the lack of funding for local candidates was actually one of the reasons why Partido Reporma’s president and Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez decided to endorse the candidacy of his rival Vice President Leni Robredo.
“If pre-election surveys was his primary reason for switching his support, I don’t believe it because like me, (Manila) Mayor (Francisco) Isko (Moreno) and Senator (Manny) Pacquiao, his newly chosen candidate is also lagging far behind the survey leader,” Lacson said in a statement sent to reporters.
“Time to call a spade a spade. It was actually more about the issue of campaign expenses for their local candidates,” Lacson said.
“His chief of staff was asking for 800 million pesos (P800-Million) in additional funding which I honestly told him I cannot produce,” he disclosed.
Lacson, on Thursday, formally tendered his resignation from Partido Reporma which chose him to be the party’s standard bearer.
According to Lacson, he has noticed how Alvarez and his group lost their desire to support his candidacy early on during their campaign.
Alvarez, during a press conference with Robredo, admitted that Lacson was “the best” and “most qualified to be president” but the reality on the ground made them reconsider their options.
“As I said yesterday, I harbor no ill-feelings for what he did. It is better that he both stop talking about this but if he insists to explain his action, I’ll be prompted to respond to correct his statements,” Lacson stressed.