BACOLOD CITY – At least 60 members of the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Negros Occidental have resigned from the political party chaired by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
BENITEZ speaks to members of the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan in Negros Occidental in a meeting before they tendered their mass resignation from the political party. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod PIO)
The mass resignation was announced by Mayor Albee Benitez here in a media interview on Monday, May 27.
Benitez said they tendered and signed their irrevocable resignation after a meeting on Saturday, May 25. Among those who quit were eight mayors and five vice mayors.
“As PDP members, we’re not even invited to their gatherings or meetings, so what do you expect? It’s as if we did not heed their call,” Benitez said.
Benitez said they will collectively decide on their next steps and which political party they will join.
“We will consider everything,” the mayor said, adding that they will meet again to discuss pressing matters.
Last year, Benitez announced the creation of the Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) political party that he will lead.
He earlier said that the formation of the KNP aims to embrace President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s unifying platform.
Benitez said that he is awaiting the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the application of KNP to be accredited as a new political party hopefully before the elections in 2025.