Alvarez: Lacson quitting would deprive Filipinos of ‘right leader’ on May 9 polls

Alvarez: Lacson quitting would deprive Filipinos of ‘right leader’ on May 9 polls

Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson should not withdraw from the 2022 presidential race because it would deprive Filipino voters of the chance to pick “the right leader” in the May 9 elections, party president Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said Wednesday.

In an interview with Deo Macalma on radio DZRH, Alvarez said whatever happens from now until May 9, Lacson will not stop campaigning, despite being behind in presidential surveys leading into the official campaign period starting on February 9.

“Sa akin naman, sabi ko, aba’y kahit anong mangyari, huwag tayong tumigil. Dahil pagka tumigil, we are depriving the voters of the opportunity to choose the right leader in the May 9, 2022 elections,” the Partido Reporma president said.

[For me, as I said, whatever happens, we should not stop (campaigning) because if we stop, we are depriving the voters of the opportunity to choose the right leader in the May 9, 2022 elections.]

The former House Speaker said that Lacson remains the most qualified for the position of Chief Executive among the contenders for the presidency, as he bewailed the “dirty tricks” of other camps to make it seem that the Partido Reporma chief is quitting with still four months before the elections.

Alvarez also hinted that the tricks were part of an effort to “steal” Lacson’s running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who has been leading most vice-presidential surveys after they became the first tandem to declare their candidacies for 2022 on September 8 last year.

“Hindi po totoo yan, kuyang. At para sa akin, ito ay alam mo na ‘yung dirty tricks ng pulitika to make it appear na kami ay titigil at susuko,” Alvarez told Macalma.

[That is not true, brother (Deo). For me, you know that these are political dirty tricks to make it appear that we are stopping and surrendering.]

The Partido Reporma president said those who want Lacson to quit should realize there is still plenty of time before the elections, that surveys are not elections, and that Filipinos can change their mind about their chosen candidates even on the eve of Election Day itself.

“Sa akin naman, kuyang, dapat isipin din nila na ‘yung eleksyon ay May 9 pa ‘yun, malayo pa ‘yun. ‘Yung surveys kasi ay hindi naman ‘yan eleksyon. Ang tao pwedeng magbago two months, one month before, two weeks before, three weeks before, one week before or even a day before—pwede pang magbago ng isip ‘yon,” Alvarez said.

[For me, brother, they should think the elections are on May 9, which is a long way off. Surveys are not elections themselves. People can change two months, one month before, two weeks before, three weeks before, one week before or even a day before—they can still change their minds.]

The veteran congressman also denied reports that Partido Reporma was negotiating with other groups to solidify the so-called opposition, as the party was focused on building up the groundwork that would boost Lacson’s numbers all the way to May 9 and lift him to the presidency.

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