FORMER Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez on Sunday announced that he has resigned from the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to pursue voters’ education campaign and revive the non-mainstream political party Reporma.
Alvarez thanked PDP-Laban’s President, Sen. Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, for allowing him to serve as the Secretary-General of PDP-Laban for almost half a decade.
Nonetheless, Alvarez respectfully sought the understanding of Pimentel as he is constrained “to tender his irrevocable resignation from his position and membership in PDP-Laban effective immediately.”
Alvarez said he resigned from the Party because he “intends to commit and pursue a voter’s education campaign for Filipinos given the importance of the 2022 elections.”
“Unfortunately, serving as a ranking officer and member of PDP-Laban while simultaneously handling this advocacy may be misconstrued by critics as politicking by the party presently in power,” Alvarez stressed.
Further, he strongly appreciated the party’s efforts in bringing to the attention of the nation the importance of empowering local governments as a prerequisite for a strong republic.
He also expressed gratitude to the legacy left behind by what he called “Tatay,” the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.
Alvarez thanked PDP-Laban for its support during the 2016 and 2019 elections, adding “the party’s assistance for those campaigns that led to historic electoral victories cannot be understated.”
Given these events, Alvarez said he accepted the offer of former Defense Sec. Renato de Villa to lead as chairman of the Reporma party that they will revive.
Reporma is not affiliated with any personality reportedly seeking the presidency, said Alvarez.
“This way, the voter’s education campaign can proceed, and rightly be perceived, as politically neutral without risking possible backlash against PDP-Laban,” Alvarez said.
