Two lawmakers took their oath Monday night as new members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and five party-list lawmakers signed an agreement as allies of the dominant party, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez announced Tuesday.
Deputy Majority Leader and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter Wee Palma II and Catanduanes Rep. Hector Sanchez were the latest members to embrace the Lakas-CMD ideology and were sworn in by Romualdez, the party president.
“Lakas-CMD is open for new members and we will continue to strengthen our political influence nationwide,” said Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules as he acknowledged it was normal for any political party to solidify and work on building its dominance.
Lakas-CMD officials and members led by Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the party Vice President for Luzon, witnessed the event at former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s residence at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.
“I feel at home here, especially with the competent leadership of House Majority Leader Romualdez,” said Palma, who bolted from the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). He cited Lakas-CMD’s reform, concrete achievements and proven capacity to lead the political arena as reasons for his decision to join the party.
For his part, Sanchez, an independent ex-governor who was a former member of then Lakas National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas-NUCD) more than two decades ago, cited Lakas-CMD’s “coherent and workable” leadership of Romualdez for its members in returning to his previous political party.
Also on Monday night, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, Ako Bisaya party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, and Alona party-list Rep. Ana Marie Villaraza-Suarez were declared “Lakas-CMD allies” after signing the “Declaration of Alliance for Unity and Progress” with the party to further solidify their support to the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
“We are Lakas-CMD allies with shared objectives to support the President’s programs and his legislative agenda as well as that of the House leadership under Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano,” said Defensor.
“We will continue to work on achieving the national development and reform agenda which will enhance the quality of life of our people,” Lagon, for his part, said.
Lakas-CMD has now 13 members and five allies in the House of Representatives, from only two members during the recently concluded 17th Congress,.
Last month, Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, a former House Majority Leader, and Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles joined Lakas-CMD.
The other officials and members of Lakas-CMD include Arroyo, Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Balindong, Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, Quezon Rep. Aleta Suarez, Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza, Negros Occidental Rep. Marilou Arroyo, and Misamis Oriental Rep. Christian Unabia.
