Two more lawmakers from Eastern Samar and Calamba City have officially joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the party announced on Monday, Aug. 15.
Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, said in a statement that Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe Abunda and Calamba City Rep. Charisse Anne Hernandez-Alcantara are the two newest stalwarts of Lakas-CMD.
Abunda and Hernandez-Alcantara took their oath before Romualdez during a simple ceremony at the social hall of the House speaker’s office.
Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, president emeritus of Lakas-CMD, witnessed the event.
In a statement, Romualdez said he was happy that Abunda and Alcantara have chosen to join the party.
“We look forward to having a fruitful and pleasant bonding and interaction with them and the rest of our members,” Romualdez added.
The addition of the two lawmakers made the Lakas-CMD among the biggest factions in the lower chamber with 66 members.
This number is more than double its previous membership of 27 in the 18th Congress.
During the same event, Romualdez also formally welcomed other party members by administering their oath.
These include Taft Mayor Gina Ty and former Guiuan Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales, both from Eastern Samar province.
The oath-taking of the new Lakas-CMD members came after last month’s addition to the party of Davao City Reps. Isidro Ungab and Vincent Garcia, Davao del Norte Rep. Alan Dujali, and Camarines Norte Rep. Josefina Tallado.