Robin Padilla assumes as new president of PDP

By Leonel Abasola, Philippine News Agency

Padilla took his oath before PDP vice chairman Alfonso Cusi and auditor Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday formally assumed his post as new president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), replacing Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Chavez Alvarez.

Alvarez said the party is in good hands under Padilla who was has served as the party’s executive vice president and acting president.

“As the new PDP president, Senator Padilla will continue to consolidate the party membership and prepare for the 2025 mid-term elections, which Rep. Alvarez started,” the PDP said in a statement,

Padilla took his oath before PDP vice chairman Alfonso Cusi and auditor Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

In April, the Duterte-led PDP officially removed “Laban” from its name and endorsed the reelection bid of Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, and Go for the 2025 midterm elections.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte is the party chairman.

“We are confident that under Senator Padilla’s leadership, the party is in good hands and will continue to be a major force for reform and development in the country,” the PDP statement read.

The party thanked Alvarez for leading PDP in the past 20 months, “as he made it a stronger political party that is focused on helping drive reforms in the country so that every Filipino will have an equal opportunity to attain his greatest potential.”

In the Senate, Padilla has advocated reforms to the 1987 Constitution, peace and order, and anti-illegal drugs, and has been asserting the country’s sovereignty, as well as the rights of Muslim Filipinos.

“In February 1983, the PDP and Laban merged, making it a national political party with members from all over the country,” the PDP-Laban’s official website read.

Laban is associated with the late former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino III while the PDP was founded by the late Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.

The PDP-Laban faction led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and then-presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao filed a motion for reconsideration to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on its decision affirming the Cusi-wing as the “legitimate faction.”

On Jan. 27, 2023, the Comelec denied the Pimentel faction’s motion over the leadership of the party.

In February 2023, the Pimental wing filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to reverse the Comelec’s decision.

Since November 2023, PDP membership in the House of Representatives dropped to just 15 from more than 100 during the time of Duterte.