In just one day, the Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez-led Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) nearly doubled its membership in the House of Representatives.
This, after Romualdez, the party president, administered the oath to some 23 new party members at Lakas-CMD Headquarters in Mandaluyong City Thursday afternoon, June 9.
The slew of new solons who joined the Lakas-CMD fold brought the party’s strength in the upcoming 19th Congress to 50. The figure is roughly one-sixth of the entire House.
“We are elated that our colleagues chose to be with us in Lakas-CMD. We look forward to having a fruitful engagement with them and sharing the values and advocacies we have followed and pursued as one of the biggest political parties in the country,” said Romualdez, who is the leading speakership contender in the 19th Congress.
Among the new Lakas-CMD members are Reps. David “Jayjay” C. Suarez (Quezon), Patrick Michael “PM” D. Vargas (Quezon City), Dean Asistio (Caloocan City), Faustino “Inno” Dy V (Isabela), Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte (Biñan City, Laguna), Emmarie “Lolypop” M. Ouano-Dizon (Mandaue City), Cheeno D. Almario (Davao Oriental), Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas II (Surigao del Norte), Samier A. Tan (Sulu), Jurdin Jesus “JJ” M. Romualdo (Camiguin), Dimple Mastura (Maguindanao), Christopherson Yap (Southern Leyte), Irwin Tieng (Manila), Midy Cua (Quirino), Ernix Dionisio (Manila), Edsel Galeos (Cebu), Jinky Bitrics Luistro (Batangas), Arnan C. Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro), Doris E. Maniquiz (Zambales), Joseph Tan (Isabela), Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III (Isabela), Jojo Lara (Cagayan) and Steve Solon (Sarangani).
Those who physically took their oath before Romualdez were Vargas, Dionisio, Tieng, Asistio, Tan, Inno Dy, Cua, Maniquiz, Yap, Romualdo, Almario, and Tan while other lawmakers signed their oath of membership.
Camiguin Governor-elect Xavier Jesus "XJ" Romualdo, incoming Santiago City, Isabela Mayor Alyssa Sheena P. Tan and Zamboanga City Mayor John M. Dalipe also joined the Lakas-CMD's physical oathtaking.
Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Palma II, the Lakas-CMD’s deputy secretary general, said they expected members of the incoming House to gravitate toward their party since it was at the forefront of the campaign that led to the landslide victory of the UniTeam tandem of President-elect Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Vice President-elect Sara Duterte.
Duterte is the Lakas-CMD chairperson.
Palma noted that the President-elect himself has acknowledged Lakas-CMD’s contribution to the success of the campaign in a thanksgiving dinner he hosted for his campaign staff and supporters last month.
Marcos said: “Of course how can I talk about this (victory) without talking about ang ginawa ng tulong ng Lakas, at syempre headed ng ating majority floor leader, Congressman Martin, who looks set to be the next Speaker.”