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MANILA, Philippines – The former president and deputy of the first district of Davao del Norte, Pantaleón Álvarez, has submitted his “irrevocable resignation” to the Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan Party (PDP-Laban), led by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Álvarez served as secretary general of the ruling party for almost half a decade.
In a press release on Sunday, Alvarez said he resigned as secretary general and a member of the political party to “engage and pursue the voter education campaign.”
“Unfortunately, serving as a high-ranking official and member of PDP-Laban while simultaneously managing this defense can be misinterpreted by critics as politicking by the Party currently in power,” the press release said.
Instead, he accepted the offer to lead as president and revive Reporma, an unconventional party that is not affiliated with any personality supposedly seeking the presidency.
“In this way, the voter education campaign can continue, and rightly be perceived as politically neutral without the risk of possible backlash against PDP-Laban,” the press release says.
Álvarez thanked the president of PDP-Laban, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, adding that he “strongly appreciated” the party’s efforts to draw the nation’s attention to the importance of empowering local governments as a prerequisite for a strong republic.
He thanked PDP-Laban for their support during the 2016 and 2019 elections. He added that “the Party’s attendance for those campaigns that led to historic electoral victories cannot be underestimated.”
JE
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