New members boost Lakas strength
THE Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) keeps gaining strength as well-known politicians continue to swell its ranks.
The latest to join the political party are Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado and Davao de Oro Rep. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora.
Mercado, Zamora plus 17 other local government officials took their oath before Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez during a virtual oath-taking ceremony.
“Lakas-CMD party is growing stronger and better every day. Our focus now is to use the party’s strength to help our people in this time of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19) pandemic,” Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, said during the meeting.
“Thank you, despite the pandemic, we are here working very hard to strengthen our party. Welcome to the ever growing Lakas-CMD,” Romualdez also said, adding that Lakas-CMD is supportive to pass President Rodrigo Duterte’s remaining legislative agenda before his term ends on 2022.
According to Romualdez, with Lakas-CMD gaining momentum in the House of Representatives, the party will continue to work closely with Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to wrap up the approval of the entire legislative agenda of President Duterte.
Revilla, formerly with the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas
ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), is the wife of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla who chairs the Lakas-CMD.
Zamora maintains his membership with the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as chairperson.
The leadership of the Lakas-CMD appointed Mayor Revilla as Cavite’s provincial chairperson while Zamora as party head of Davao de Oro’s province.
The following are 13 others who joined the Lakas-CMD and were appointed as provincial chair of their respective provinces: former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa; ex-Batanes Rep. Carlo Oliver Diasnes; Glan, Sarangani Mayor Vivien Yap; Antique Board Member Emmanual Palacios Jr.; former Buluan, Maguindanao Mayor Ibrahim “Jong” Mangudadatu; Aklan Board Member Nelson Santamaria; Sittie Aminah Quibranza Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte; Cotabato Board Member Shirlyn D. Macasarte-Villanueva; Aurora Board Member Philip “Butch” Bautista; Anthony Wooden of Mountain Province; retired Police Col. Ronald Joseph Ocaya of Zamboanga del Norte; Passi City, Iloilo Vice Mayor Jesry Palmares; and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Mayor Emmanuel Galila.
The Lakas-CMD also named Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos as party
head of Region 12 and Councilor Ralph Ryan H. Rafael as chairman of Cotabato’s Third District. Santos and Rafael also joined the party Wednesday.
Lakas-CMD in the House of Representatives are also composed of Lakas-CMD Vice President for Luzon and Deputy Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of Pampanga, Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II, Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Balindong, Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, Quezon Rep. Aleta Suarez, Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza, Negros Occidental Rep. Marilou Arroyo, Misamis Oriental Rep. Christian Unabia, former House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, Catanduanes Rep. Hector Sanchez, Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus “XJ” Romualdo, Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan Ecleo, Southern Leyte Rep. Roger “Oging” Mercado, Biliran Rep. Gerardo “Gerryboy” Espina Jr., Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Quezon City Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” Crisologo, Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Leonardo L. Babasa Jr., Cagayan Rep. Samantha Louise Vargas Alfonso and Davao Occidental Rep. Lorna Bautista-Bandigan.
The 22 Lakas-CMD allies from the party-list bloc include Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, Ako Bisaya Rep. Sonny “SL” Lagon, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Alona Rep. Ana Marie Villaraza-Suarez, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizalde Co, Ako Padayon Pilipino Rep. Adriano Ebcas, CWS Rep. Romeo Momo, Sr., GP Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos, Philreca Rep. Presyley de Jesus, Recobodan Rep. Godofredo Guya, TGP Rep. Jose Teves, TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Magsasaka Rep. Argel Cabatbat, Deputy Speaker and Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Ang Probinsyano Alfred Delos Santos, APEC Rep. Sergio Dagooc, Senior Citizens Rep. Rodolfo M. Ordanes, Duterte Youth Rep. Ducielle Marie S. Cardema, BHW Rep. Angelina Natasha Co, LPGMA Rep. Allan Ty, and DUMPER PTDA Rep. Claudine Diana D. Bautista.