Political butterfly? Martinez says he was replaced as official bet

Valenzuela Representative Eric Martinez on Saturday contradicted allegations that he was a “political butterfly,” one who switches from one political party to another, saying that he did not leave his party but was replaced.

During the face-off round of “Tanong ng Bayan: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off 2025,” Martinez said that LAKAS-CMD chose another person as its official local candidate in the 2010 elections.

“Local politics came into play. Pinalitan kami, ibang partido ang kinuha nila bilang official nilang kandidato locally. Wala kaming magawa, lumipat ako sa Liberal,” Martinez said.

(Local politics came into play. We were replaced and they chose another to be their official local candidate. Our hands were tied then so I switched to the Liberal Party.)

According to GMA News Research, Martinez ran as councilor under LAKAS-CMD in 2004 and as vice mayor in 2007.

He then ran for another term as vice mayor under the Liberal Party in 2010 and was a member of the political party until 2015.

In 2016, Martinez joined the PDP Laban and ran as a House representative.

“Pagdating ng 2015, hindi ako umalis. Pinalitan uli ako. Local politics came into play. May kandidatong congressman, ‘yun ang mas pinili nila siguro dahil ako ay vice mayor nung panahon na yun,” Martinez said.

(In 2025, I did not leave. I was replaced. Local politics came into play. There was a candidate for congressman. That's probably what they chose because I was Vice Mayor at the time.)

“Tumatakbo akong independent ngayon. Tumakbo tayo under the banner of unity,” he added.

(I’m running as an independent. We are running under the banner of unity. I believe in that and being independent would make me discharge any political bandages.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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