Solons change courts: PDP-Laban welcomes new members

Photo: PDP Laban/Facebook.com

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) welcomed new party members on Wednesday.

Most of the new members came from key opposition Liberal Party namely: Lanao del Sur Rep. Ansaruddin Adiong, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas.

Other new members came from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the Nacionalista Party and the Lakas-CMD namely: Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete and Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Divina Grace Yu (NPC); Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison (NP); and Camiguin Rep. Xavier Romualdo (Lakas-CMD).

This shift of party association would mean that the PDP-Laban had already secured 120 members in the 292- seat chamber. This could mean that it could secure enough votes to pursue agendas in favor of the Duterte Administration and could be instrumental in rejecting the impeachment complaint filed against President Duterte.

Some lawmakers stated their reasons in changing political affiliations saying that it as a way to secure an advantage of winning the 2019 elections or because they support of the current administration and its agendas.

The Liberal Party on the other hand admitted that it is currently facing internal and external challenges including being in the cross-hairs of the new administration.

Onset the Duterte Administration, the Liberal Party had been the key opposition party in the country. Many party members had lost key positions in the government or currently facing prosecution. Vice President Leni Robredo had been removed in the Duterte Cabinet while Sen. Leila De Lima is currently in prison facing drug trafficking charges.

Liberal Party President Sen. Francis Pangilinan wished the five former Party members on their new ventures in joining PDP-Laban. He also issued a statement dismissing accusations being thrown at the party such as being involved in destabilization plots.
“We don’t have the resources – time, people, or money – for all the accusations the social media trolls and some government officials have thrown at us.”