Lacson takes oath as Partido Reporma chairman

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday took his oath as the new chairman of Demokratikong Reporma Party (Reporma).

Present during the oath-taking were Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Partido Reporma founder and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, and former Rep. Monsour del Rosario.

In a text message to reporters, Lacson said the Reporma Party will gather its old and new members.

“We are now in the process of consolidating old and new members of party,” he said.

“My advocacies are well aligned with those of Reporma like - people’s sovereignty and democracy, decentralization and devolution of powers, social justice responsibility, strong economic foundation, environmental awareness, voters’ education, among others,” he added

Reporma will be carrying Lacson as its presidential candidate in the 2022 national and local elections.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who will be Lacson’s running mate, earlier disclosed forging alliances with Reporma and Aksyon Demokratiko.

In a statement, Alvarez confirmed that he has met Sotto and Lacson along with several politicians to “discuss matters of urgent importance pursuant to forming a united Philippines alliance.”

In November 2020, Alvarez has resigned as secretary-general of the ruling PDP-Laban and joined de Villa to lead and revive Reporma, a non-mainstream party.

According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, 4% of Filipinos said they would vote Lacson for president while 10% of Filipinos said they would vote for Sotto. —KBK, GMA News