Governor Dennis Socrates shared his thoughts about his departure from the Partido Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP), led by long-time ally and current 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez, and the resulting polarization of Palawan’s political landscape.
During the launch of his newly formed political party Lakas ng Sambayanang Palawenyo (LSP) on Monday, September 9, Socrates described feeling isolated after resigning from the PPP.
“Bagama’t masaya pa rin ako dahil may naramdamang paglaya — sa isang banda, sa kabilangbanda — ay parang nag-iisa at walang kakampi ang naging kalagayan ko,” Socrates said.
“Kalaban na ang tingin sa akin ng mayorya ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Mabuti na lang, may kakampi pa rin akong tatlong board members,” he added.
He felt the need to seek allies, but discovered he did not need to after friends and political clans, specifically the family of former Deputy Speaker Alfredo “Amor” Abueg, Jr. and former Congressman and former Vice-Governor David Ponce de Leon, reached out to express their support following his departure from the PPP.
He said this new alliance led to the creation of their new party, which will field candidates for the upcoming May 12, 2025, elections.
Socrates further explained that the creation of the new party was timely as they need to unite people who care for the province to protect it and fight for the common good.
“Sapagkat sa ngayon, higit sa mga nagdaang panahon, humaharap tayo sa banta ng hindi lamang iisa kundi dumaraming mga dayuhang bilyonaryong mangangalakal na nais pagsamantalahan ang ating kahirapan upang lalo pang magpayaman sa kalupaan at likas-yaman ng ating lalawigan,” he stated.
“At hindi lamang sa pangangalakal kundi pati sa pagkamkam ng kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan,” he added.
He recalled joining the PPP in 2010, attracted by the vision of the party and Rep. Alvarez’s message of bringing development to Palawan. However, after serving three terms as vice governor and eventually becoming governor, he began to notice issues with the party’s direction.
“At some point of course, medyo may unti-unting pagbabago. Sinasabi ko na ang pagkamulat ay gradual. I was vice governor for three terms and far from the position of governor,” he said.
“Ang nangyari ay maya’t-maya, may maliliit na pagpapasya na kailangang isagawa ang local chief executive na hindi naaayon sa kagustuhan ng partido at sa pagkakataong yun, ako ay sumusunod sa aking konsensya. So sa tingin ko doon nagsimula yung paghihiwalay ng aking landas at ng PPP,” he said.
He described his breakaway from the PPP as a blessing in disguise and his “liberation.”
“Yung pagkakaalis ko sa PPP is a liberation in the sense na I can do, I can say things na maaring ayaw ng partido, maaring labag sa kanilang direksyon pero hindi na ako obligadong sumunod o umayon sa kanilang position,” he said.
