The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party has welcomed three more district lawmakers as its new members, bringing the number of its party members in the House of Representatives to 45.
In a hybrid oath-taking ceremony held in Imus, Cavite late afternoon Sunday, Nov. 29, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, who serves as the Lakas-CMD president, administered the oath to Cavite 2nd District Rep. Strike Revilla, a former member of the National Unity Party (NUP).
“It is time to go back home. Lakas-CMD is home to our family, and it feels good to be back home,” said Revilla, a former mayor of Bacoor.
Revilla’s older brother, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, is the party chairman.
“We embrace the return of our brother Strike into the party. Now, Cavite may be considered a Lakas-CMD country and a force to reckon with in the next elections,” Romualdez said.
The two other lawmakers who joined the party last week were Cagayan 2nd District Rep. Samantha Vargas-Alfonso and Davao Occidental lone Rep. Lorna Bautista-Bandigan.
Romualdez noted that of the 45 party members in the chamber, 24 are district congressmen, while 21 are partylist-allies.
In October, Quezon City 1st District Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo, and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose M. Dalipe joined the party, while four partylist lawmakers--Reps. Rodolfo M. Ordanes (Senior Citizens), Ducielle Marie S. Cardema (Duterte Youth), Angelina Natasha Co (BHW), and Claudine Diana D. Bautista (DUMPER PTDA) decided to forge partnership with the party to express their all-out support to President Duterte’s priority legislative agenda and the House leadership.
Two former members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Camiguin lone District Rep. Xavier Jesus “XJ” Romualdo and Dinagat Islands lone District Rep. Alan Ecleo, also recently joined Lakas-CMD.
Last month, Quezon City Councilor Winnie Castelo, who served three terms as Quezon City congressman and husband of Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Castelo, also joined Lakas-CMD.
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, Lakas-CMD has been steadily consolidating its forces in the Lower Chamber.