MANILA, Philippines — The Partido Reporma backed the candidacy of Vice President Sara Duterte and pushed for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as her running mate in the 2028 elections.
The statement of support sent to The Manila Times on Thursday comes after Duterte declared her candidacy the day before.
Former speaker and Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, party chairman and president, said that their support to the Duterte-Marcoleta tandem was not grounded on personality politics, but on principle.
"Vice-President Duterte's declaration speaks to the realities confronting the Filipino people; rising costs of living, communities vulnerable to crime and disorder, weakened public services, and infrastructure and disaster-response systems that must be strengthened. These are not abstract issues, They affect families daily," Alvarez said.
He also said that recent controversies, including questions surrounding flood control and other public infrastructure expenditures, have heightened public concern.
"In a functioning democracy, accountability must be pursued through the rule of law — transparently, impartially, and without fear or favor. Public trust depends on it," Alvarez said.
The party, Alvarez said, believed that the country must move beyond cycles of accusation, counter-accusation, and factional politics.
"Leadership must be anchored in governance, not maneuvering. Institutions must be strengthened, not weakened by division," he said.