Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday channeled World War II leader Winston Churchill, saying it's courage that counts after his former party switched to his rival presidential candidate, Vice President Leni Robredo.
Lacson on Twitter thanked his supporters who "continue to hold the line" after he quit as chairman of Partido Reporma. In his second presential campaign, Lacson ranks fifth both in surveys and Google Trends searches.
EXPLAINER: What's Next for Ping Lacson After Own Party Endorses Leni Robredo?
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts," Lacson quoted former British prime minister Churchill.
"To our old, reliable and resolute warriors who continue to hold the line while bringing in new volunteers to fight for what is right and good for our country and the Filipino people, from the deepest bottom of my heart - THANK YOU!" the senator said in another tweet.
Lacson left Partido Reporma on Thursday, saying it was "only decent and proper" following the party leaders' decision to support Robredo.
Hours after Lacson announced his decision, the party's president, former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez held a press conference with Robredo to formalize the endorsement.
READ:
Ping Lacson Quits Own Party, Says it Supports Rival Candidate
'Sorry Ma'am,' Ex-Duterte Ally Tells Robredo as He Endorses Her
Political analysts have said that Lacson's departure from Partido Reporma could hurt his presidential campaign.
“Bababa ang boto niyan. A political party is not a be-all but it’s important to have a political party kasi makakatulong yun in a place where the competition is about having a support base,” said Ronald Castillo, who teaches Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas.
"There would be sympathy votes as our electorate would have plenty of that but I think inadequate to pull Ping for a win. Ping’s numbers are so low that no amount of tears could afloat him," De La Salle University political science professor Gerardo Eusebio told reportr.
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