Makati City 1st District Rep. Monsour del Rosario III is the newest member of the ruling political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan.
Del Rosario, who ran for congressman in the May 2016 elections under political party of United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Jejomar Binay, took his oath before PDP-Laban secretary-general and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday.
But Makati City Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo said Del Rosario’s transfer to the party of President Rodrigo Duterte will not erase his ‘failure’ in serving his constituents in the city’s First District.
“It is important for the constituents of Makati to witness and experience the service of their elected officials. It is a pity that since his election, Monsour del Rosario did not pay much attention to his constituents in District I,” said Lagdameo in a statement.
She said transferring to another political party will not erase former actor’s failing mark in serving the people.
Lagdameo said she and her fellow officials under UNA-Makati never mistreated Del Rosario in any way, despite his alleged negligence.
“In fact, we at UNA-Makati have been working together to compensate for his inaction,” she said.
“Joining another party is his personal decision. We respect this. Ultimately, we will all be judged by the people of Makati,” added Lagdameo, who was the 2016 polls runningmate of now incumbent Mayor Abigail Binay.
In the Philippines, the term Hunyango (Chameleon) is being associated with turncoatism, which according to observers, is a normal exercise in modern politics in the country.
Some analysts said chameleons changes their skin color perfunctorily, and politicians possessed with the temerity to stay affiliated to a political party out of ideology and values are rare.
Except to at least two city councilors, all incumbent local officials in Makati won in the previous elections under the political party of the Binays.