Manila Bulletin
NUP membership in House doubles; Pulong, Isko expected to get key posts in new party
NUP membership in House doubles; Pulong, Isko expected to get key posts in new party
NUP membership in House doubles; Pulong, Isko expected to get key posts in new party
Published Aug 05, 2019 16:27 pm
|
Updated Aug 05, 2019 16:27 pm
By Ben Rosario
The National Unity Party, a political party co-founded by industrialist Enrique Razon, doubled its membership from 25 to 50 congressmen in the House of Representatives, with much of the credit for the recruitment of the new members attributed to adopted party member, presidential son and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte.
The party, a spinoff of the now defunct Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), will elect its officers today with Duterte and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno as among those expected to get key posts that will include the party president.
Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno
(Congressman Roberto "Robbie" Puno / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno disclosed that 12 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) congressmen were among the new recruits. Some came from local parties. Puno added that Duterte and seven other partylist solons were of adopted status. In a press conference, Puno said Duterte was an “adopted” member of the NUP, adding that he was not sure if making him president of the party would be allowed under the NUP by-laws. “I don’t know if it’s allowed in the by-laws. As much as possible we would like him to get a position in the national leadership,” the House official said. Puno also confirmed that Moreno has already been accepted as regular NUP member. “Like Paolo Duterte, I would like him to have a national position (in the party),” said Puno, brother of party chairman and former Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno. Duterte, who heads the Davao City local party Hugpong ng Tawong Lungsod, joined NUP as adopted member last week, bringing with him a number of partylist and congressional district allies. Puno admitted that the presidential son’s decision to align with NUP was one reason for the sudden upsurge in party membership. Puno said Duterte;s leadership qualities could be his ticket to becoming a ‘’great congressman”. “He is not the kind of person who will strike you at being afraid of anything,” the Antipolo City solon said. He added: “And when people see him joining a particular party, I think there’s a desire to be around him as well.” Despite the departure of some of its members, PDP-Laban, according to Puno, will remain as the ruling party in the Lower House. Earlier, Mindoro Occidental Rep. Salvador Leachon downplayed the NUP membership increase, saying that only nine PDP-Laban congressmen joined it. According to Leachon the PDP-Laban contingent in the Lower House was now headed by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who is expected to take over the speakership when the term-sharing agreement with Cayetano takes effect in 15 months. Both Puno and Leachon agreed that the term-sharing pact will be carried out only as agreed upon by Cayetano and Velasco.
Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno(Congressman Roberto "Robbie" Puno / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno disclosed that 12 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) congressmen were among the new recruits. Some came from local parties. Puno added that Duterte and seven other partylist solons were of adopted status. In a press conference, Puno said Duterte was an “adopted” member of the NUP, adding that he was not sure if making him president of the party would be allowed under the NUP by-laws. “I don’t know if it’s allowed in the by-laws. As much as possible we would like him to get a position in the national leadership,” the House official said. Puno also confirmed that Moreno has already been accepted as regular NUP member. “Like Paolo Duterte, I would like him to have a national position (in the party),” said Puno, brother of party chairman and former Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno. Duterte, who heads the Davao City local party Hugpong ng Tawong Lungsod, joined NUP as adopted member last week, bringing with him a number of partylist and congressional district allies. Puno admitted that the presidential son’s decision to align with NUP was one reason for the sudden upsurge in party membership. Puno said Duterte;s leadership qualities could be his ticket to becoming a ‘’great congressman”. “He is not the kind of person who will strike you at being afraid of anything,” the Antipolo City solon said. He added: “And when people see him joining a particular party, I think there’s a desire to be around him as well.” Despite the departure of some of its members, PDP-Laban, according to Puno, will remain as the ruling party in the Lower House. Earlier, Mindoro Occidental Rep. Salvador Leachon downplayed the NUP membership increase, saying that only nine PDP-Laban congressmen joined it. According to Leachon the PDP-Laban contingent in the Lower House was now headed by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who is expected to take over the speakership when the term-sharing agreement with Cayetano takes effect in 15 months. Both Puno and Leachon agreed that the term-sharing pact will be carried out only as agreed upon by Cayetano and Velasco.