THE exodus of members from former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) continues as two more lawmakers left the party to join the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Reps. Divine Grace Yu of Zamboanga del Sur and Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte yesterday took their oath as members of the Lakas-CMD, along with 18 mayors from Zamboanga del Sur.
Ma. Cynthia Chan (Lapu-Lapu City, Lone District) of the National Unity Party has also joined the ruling party.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, personally administered the oath to the new members of his party, saying Lakas-CMD “is entering a new age of political unity not only in the House of Representatives but in the whole country as well.”
Two weeks ago, Masbate Reps. Richard Kho, Olga Kho, and Wilton Kho joined Lakas.
Before that, 10 former PDP-Laban officials and members bolted from their party to join Lakas-CMD: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Rep. Carmelo Lazatin II, both of Pampanga; Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa, Parañaque City Rep. Edwin Olivares, Pasay City Rep. Antonino Calixto, Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Glona Labadlabad, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Roa Rama Jr., Camarines Norte Rep. Rosemarie Conejos Panotes, Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Dale B. Corvera, and Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy.
Former Nacionalista Party members Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing and Cagayan de Oro City 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan have also joined the Lakas-CMD.
In the same oath-taking ceremony, the following Zamboanga del Sur mayors also joined Lakas: Silvano Zanoria of Aurora, Gerry Paglinawan of Dumingag, Catalino Adapon of Josefina, Manuel Saladaga of Mahayag, Elmer Soronio of Midsalip, Cyril Reo Glepa of Molave, Margie Machon of Ramon Magsaysay, Johnriel Melo of Sominot, Macario Tingson of Tukura, Avelino Yrauda of Dimataling, Eleazar Asoy of Dinas, Domingo Mirrar of Lakewood, Joel Sulong of Lapuyan, Alejandro Agua III of Margosatubig, James Yecyec of Pitogo, Ex Ocapan of San Miguel, Anthony Dayondon of Tabina, and Eleazar Carcallas of Tigbao.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City and it was attended by House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker and Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., and Lakas Secretary General and Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II.
