A vice governor, several board members, mayors, vice mayors and councilors from five provinces on Tuesday joined Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the largest political group in the country.
“We proudly welcome our new members into the Lakas-CMD family. The oath of membership you took reaffirms our shared commitment to the values and principles that guide our party,” said Lakas-CMD president and incumbent Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Together, let us fortify our collective resolve to serve the Filipino people with integrity, dedication, and unity and to work towards a brighter and more prosperous future for the Filipino nation,” he added.
Romualdez administered the oath of membership to the party’s 49 new members. The newest batch is made up of local officials from Bulacan, Zambales, Mindoro Oriental, La Union and Iloilo.
The group is the latest among local officials who have chosen to affiliate themselves with the biggest political party in Congress and in the country.
Welcoming his new party members, Romualdez said he was happy with the decision of the group to join Lakas-CMD.
He said the expansion of his party’s membership “widens support in Congress and in the grassroots for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Agenda for Prosperity.”
“We all dream of making life better for our people,” he said.
On Monday, Romualdez administered the oath to 56 new party members from the provinces of Quezon, Catanduanes, Albay and Camiguin.
Among those who pledged their allegiance to Lakas-CMD on Tuesday were officials from the province of Bulacan, including Board Members Renato De Guzman, Jr. and Arthur Legaspi, as well as Sta. Maria town officials namely Councilors Carl Gerard Castillo, Nelson Carmelo Luciano, Jesus de Guzman, Jr., and Salvador Pleyto, Jr.
Norzagaray, Bulacan officials including Vice Mayor Patricio Gener and Councilors Giulius Iapino, Ma. Cleope Pelayo and Edsel Mendoza also took their oath as new party members; as well as Guiguinto Mayor Agatha Paula Cruz and Vice Mayor Banjo Estrella, and Vice Mayor Rolando Peralta of Pulilan town.
Zambales Vice Governor Jacqueline Rose Khonghun and Board Member Enrique Delgado led other officials and residents of the province in formally entering the roster of Lakas-CMD.
Joining them in the oath-taking rites were Subic Mayor Jonathan Khonghun, along with Vice Mayor Lauro Simbol and Councilors Ryan Gonzales, Orlando Timbol, Gennyfer Chantengco, Joeben Felarca, and Elmer Tumaca, as well as prospective local candidates Rowena Sawey, Ronnie dela Cruz and Ruel Sarmiento. Castillejos, Zambales Councilor Cecil Felarca-Rafanan also took the oath of membership.
Likewise, several incumbent local executives of the province of La Union were among the latest additions to the growing ranks of Lakas-CMD. They include San Juan Mayor Arturo Valdriz, Bacnotan Mayor Divina Fontanilla, San Gabriel Mayor Lany Carbonell, Santol Mayor Magno Wailan, and Sudipen Mayor Wendy Joy Buquing.
In solidarity with them, former San Fernando City Rep. Pablo Ortega as well as Board Members Gerard Ostrea (Balaoan), Maria Rosario Eufrosina Nisce (City of San Fernando) and Jennifer Mosuela-Fernandez (Bangar), also took oath as new Lakas-CMD party members.
Three mayors from Iloilo were also among the newest members of the party, including Jennifer Garin-Colada (Guimbal), Juvic Escorpion (Igbaras) and Roquit Tacsagon (Tubungan).
Meanwhile, Mayor Henry Joel Teves of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro headlined the batch of new Lakas-CMD members from the province.
Taking the oath with him are several individuals eyeing elective positions in the municipality of Bongabong, namely Joanne Debuque Enriquez, Victoria Baes Padullo, Jeffrey Brucal Alea, Niña Fernandez Atienza, Romeo Bayanay, Jeremy Isler Enriquez, Carlito Rosales Frias, Joseph Nathaniel Orongan Gonzales, Jose Rodney Lazaro Liwanag and Teodosio Anthony Montalbo.
