Former House Speaker Alvarez endorses Robredo for president, junks Lacson

Former House Speaker and Davao del Norte Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez has endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo for president, after previously supporting the candidacy of Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Alvarez also leads Partido Reporma, which has adopted Lacson as its standard bearer. In response, Lacson has left the party and is now running as an independent.

In a statement released late Thursday morning, Alvarez called Lacson “the most qualified” among the presidential candidates. “Senator Ping Lacson is the best, and our leaders on the ground have echoed that sentiment time and again. Even supporters of other candidates agree. And under ideal circumstances, they want to campaign and vote for him and see him lead the country,” he said.

Nevertheless, Alvarez claimed that his decision is influenced by the realization that the presidential election is now just a two-way race between Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. – who maintains a lead of as much as 45 points according to surveys.

We reasonably believe that the only realistic option at this point, with roughly a month and a half left, is to converge with Leni Robredo’s campaign. Together, we will pursue the realization of our collective aspirations to improve the chances of ordinary Filipinos at a better life,” Alvarez added.

“We need a leader. And for the 2022 presidential elections, given all these considerations and the crisis we have to overcome, that leader is a woman. Her name is Leni Robredo,” he concluded. Coincidentally, Robredo is holding a major campaign rally in Davao del Norte today.