Lacson quits Partido Reporma over P800M poll fund row

Senator Panfilo Lacson claimed he never felt the support of his own party, Partido Reporma, since the start of the presidential campaign.

Lacson stated that he and Senate President Vicente Sotto III arranged their political sorties themselves.

Lacson expressed a desire to understand how the P800 million requested by Representative Pantaleon Alvarez's chief of staff would be used.

Alvarez, president of Partido Reporma, had previously stated the P800 million was for poll watchers, estimating P1,000 per watcher, and denied it was for political support.

The issue of the P800 million, supposedly for local candidates, led to Lacson's resignation as Partido Reporma chairman and member.

Alvarez later switched his support to Vice President Leni Robredo, a move Lacson found questionable regarding winnability.

The Robredo campaign, through spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, denied any P800 million payment was made for Partido Reporma's endorsement.