The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) has welcomed Camiguin lone district Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo and Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan Ecleo as its new party members, even as the party vowed its continued support to the Duterte government’s all-out fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, party president, and Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo of Pampanga, party vice president, administered the oath to Romualdo and Ecleo, on Tuesday afternoon.
With the decision of Romualdo and Ecleo to leave the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and join Lakas-CMD party, the number of the Lakas-CMD party members in the House stood at 36 with 19 district congressmen and 17 party-list allies and friends.
“It’s a great pleasure and happiness that we are here today (Tuesday) to report to you that Lakas-CMD party is growing stronger and better
every day,” said Romualdez during the hybrid oath-taking event.
“Lakas-CMD is gaining momentum in its goal to strengthen its ranks in the House of Representatives. We will continue this feat in the coming months by strengthening our support for our 19 regular members and 17 party-list allies.”
Romualdo physically took his oath before Romualdez and Arroyo at the Executive Lounge of the House of Representatives, while Ecleo was sworn in as new party member via Zoom with majority of party members and allies.
Romualdez maintained that their party "will remain a staunch ally of the government and will continue to support the swift passage of President Duterte’s legislative agenda.”
In his opening remarks, Arroyo said, "Although we have the pandemic, we are working very hard to strengthen our political party because only in strength that we can really help our people. We need to do this as part of our mandate to provide basic services to our people."
Romualdez and Arroyo took the opportunity to express gratitude to Lakas-CMD stalwart and House Deputy Majority Leader Wilter Wee Palma II of Zamboanga Sibugay for acting as the “workhorse of the party” in terms of recruiting new party members.
Romualdez expressed Lakas-CMD’s commitment to push “for a common legislative agenda that will address the concerns of all sectors, especially those that are affected by the pandemic.”
Since the 17th Congress, the Lakas-CMD has been steadily consolidating its forces in the Lower Chamber.
On June 23, three mayors in Zamboanga del Sur-- Bayog Mayor Celso A. Matias, San Miguel Mayor Angelito L. Martinez II and Guipos Mayor Vicente P. Cajeta were sworn in as new party members.
Last June 8, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Leonardo “Jun” Babasa Jr., vice chairperson of three House Committees-- Disaster Management, Higher and Technical Education, and Local Government joined Lakas-CMD party.
Southern Leyte lone district Rep. Roger “Oging” Mercado, Biliran lone district Rep. Gerardo "Gerryboy” Espina Jr., and Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman had also joined the party last December, February, and March, respectively.
Aside from Romualdez and Arroyo, other Lakas-CMD party officials and members include Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Lanao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Yasser Balindong, Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan 4th district Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, Quezon 3rd district Rep. Aleta Suarez, Lapu-Lapu City lone district Rep. Paz Radaza, Negros Occidental 5th district Rep. Marilou Arroyo, and Misamis Oriental 1st district Rep. Christian Unabia.
Among the 18 party-list lawmakers who are allied with Lakas-CMD 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, Recoboda 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, and APEC Rep. Sergio Dagooc.
The partylist lawmakers had inked the “Declaration of Alliance for Unity and Progress” with the Lakas-CMD "to further solidify their support to the legislative agenda of President Duterte and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Former Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Fidel Ramos, and former Speaker Jose de Venecia are part of the 28-year old political party.