Parañaque City 1st district Rep. Edwin Olivares, Pasay City lone district Rep. Antonino Calixto, Zamboanga del Norte 2nd district Rep. Glona Labadlabad, andCebu 2nd district Rep. Eduardo Roa Rama Jr. are the newest members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) in the House of Representatives.
The four came from erstwhile ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Lakas-CMD membership in House continues to grow at the expense of PDP-Laban
Nov 14, 2023 03:58 AM
At a glance
House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The biggest political party in the House of Representatives continues to grow in number at the expense of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
This, after the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) welcomed Parañaque City 1st district Rep. Edwin Olivares, Pasay City lone district Rep. Antonino Calixto, Zamboanga del Norte 2nd district Rep. Glona Labadlabad, and Cebu 2nd district Rep. Eduardo Roa Rama Jr. into its fold Monday afternoon, Nov. 13.
The addition of the four solons--who all came from erstwhile ruling party PDP-Laban--bumped up Lakas-CMD's membership to 82 in the legislative chamber.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez, party president, was the one who administered the oath-takings of the four new members at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker in Batasan Complex.
“We are elated to welcome these exceptional individuals into the Lakas-CMD family. Thank you for aligning with us as your entry will infuse fresh perspectives to further strengthen the Lakas-CMD’s commitment to nation-building under President [Ferdinand] Marcos' administration to champion people’s welfare and interests,” Romualdez said.
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Also on Monday, Pasay City Vice Mayor Waltrudes “Ding” Del Rosario joined Lakas-CMD.
On Nov. 8, 2023, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Reps. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II of Pampanga and Zaldy Villa of Siquijor also jumped ship from PDP-Laban to the Lakas-CMD.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte sits as chairman of PDP-Laban.
In a tirade-filled television interview last month, the elder Duterte assailed Congress and called it the "most rotten institution" in the country. He said the House under Romualdez ought to be audited.
The elder Duterte claimed the House enjoyed "unlimited" pork barrel, or discretionary funds. He also alleged that Romualdez was the one behind the attacks against his daughter, who had been criticized left and right over her erstwhile insistence to get confidential funds.