By Ben Rosario
“Lakas will be lakas again!” (Lakas will be powerful again!)
Thus, stated House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as he revealed on Wednesday that Lakas-CMD, a political party founded by former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is on a build up mode and will soon regain the political dominance it lost after Arroyo stepped down as president in 2010.
Minority leader Cong. Danilo Suarez (Kj Rosales/Manila Bulletin)
Suarez revealed in a press conference that he has returned to the party currently headed by former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Suarez has resigned as president of the United Nationalist Alliance that failed to win in its founder, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, the 2016 presidency.
“I am not surprised if GMA will return,” he said.
Arroyo is currently a member of PDP-Laban which shot up to national prominence following President Rodrigo Duterte’s vitory in 2016.
However, Arroyo has yet to be given a significant role in the PDP-Laban notwithstanding her speakership victory that cost Davao del Norte Rep. Alvarez.
The administration-backed party remains under the control of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III as party president and Alvarez.
Suarez disclosed that Lakas-CMD has forged an alliance with Hugpong Pagbabago under Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, believed to be the person behind Alvarez’s downfall as House speaker.
“We are strengthening the party, we are asking those who left to return,” Suarez said.
Lakas-CMD is also expected to field senatorial candidates in the 2019 mid-term elections.
Last week, Arroyo joined her former partymates in trying to convince detained former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Lakas-CMD chairman, to seek a Senate seat.
Romualdez, who placed 15th in the 2016 senatorial race, may also run again for senator, it was gathered.
Political pundits also expect Arroyo, who is on her third and final term as Pampanga congresswoman, will not retire from politics as she planned, but will return as member of Senate.
In the same press conference, Suarez disclosed that Binay will challenge former actor and Rep. Monsour del Rosario as District 1 congressman.