Nagbitiw bilang chairman at miyembro ng Partido Reporma si Senador Panfilo "Ping" Lacson para ituloy ang pagtakbo sa panguluhang halalan bilang indepedyante. Ang naturang partido, lumipat naman ng suporta kay Vice President Leni Robredo.

Sa pulong balitaan sa General Santos City ngayong Huwebes, sinabi ni Lacson na nagpasya ang presidente ng partido na si Pantaleon Alvarez at secretary general nito na si Edwin Jubahib, na susuporta na sa ibang kandidato sa pagkapangulo.

"Today, I officially announce my resignation as chairman and member of Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma, which effectively makes me an independent candidate for the presidency in the upcoming May 2022 elections," ayon kay Lacson.

"Considering that it is at the behest of these top-tier officials that I was recruited as a member and the party’s standard-bearer and thereafter elected as its chairman, I believe it is only decent and proper — consistent with my time-honored uncompromising principles — to make this decision," patuloy niya.

Sa kabila nito, sinabi ng senador na wala siyang sama ng loob kina Alvarez at Jubahib.

"To Partido Reporma President, former Speaker Alvarez, Secretary-General/Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib — and the rest of the Davao del Norte Reporma candidates — let me tell you this: I harbor no ill-feelings towards you and anyone who may hereafter opt to join them in their new choice of a presidential candidate," patuloy pa ni Lacson.

Reporma kay Leni na

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Alvarez na sinusuportahan na nila ngayon ang kandidatura ni Vice President Leni Robredo.

Sa panayam ni GMA News reporter Sandra Aguinaldo, sinabi ni Alvarez na ang paglipat ng suporta kay Robredo ay kagustuhan ng kanilang mga kapartido.

"Siyempre as a leader, kailangan ko namang makinig doon sa mga kasamahan ko. Nakapagpasya sila, kinausap ako na kung puwede ay humanap kami ng isang kandidato na nakikita natin na yung karamihan ng Pilipino ay may tiwala na suportahan," ayon sa kongresista.

Sa hiwalay na pahayag, sinabi ni Alvarez na "the best" at "the most qualified to be president" si Lacson pero iba umano ang pananaw ng mga tao.

"Time and context framed the narrative of 2022 in a way that gave traction, rightly or wrongly, to other candidacies instead. This is a difficult fact which takes courage to admit," anang mambabatas.

"Our ground leaders have expressed their wish to participate in that brave calling. And that is why, a hard choice must be made. With a heavy heart, many members of Partido Reporma are constrained to consider a candidate other than their first choice," sabi pa ni Alvarez.

Laban hanggang sa dulo

Nangako naman si Lacson na hindi niya iiwan ang mga sumusuporta sa kaniya at sa kaniyang laban kontra sa katiwalian.

"I am not leaving you behind. I assure you that I will be your leader and supporter in our shared convictions and aspirations. Magkakasama pa rin tayo sa laban na ito. Tulad ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, tuloy ang laban hanggang sa dulo," deklara ni Lacson.

Hindi na rin naman umano bago sa kaniya ang tumakbo bilang independent kaya walang magbabago sa nalalabing panahon sa kampanya.

"Nothing will change. For the past several months, yung funds na pumapasok sa akin, yun ang aming nase-share sa partido," pahayag niya.

Sinabi ng vice presidential candidate at running mate ni Lacson na si Senate President Vicente Sotto III, na walang magbabago sa kanilang pangangampanya.

"It doesn't change anything as far as I am concerned... Well, I am surprised of the announcement. I was not expecting it but perhaps that could be the best thing to do as far as our presidential candidate is concerned," sabi ni Sotto sa naturang press conference.

--FRJ, GMA News