Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend Alvin V. Patrimonio, actress-singer Arci Muñoz, and veteran politicians Alma Moreno and Teri Onor, who will be gunning for local posts, have joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) in preparation for the May 9, 2022 polls.
Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin G. Romualdez of the 1st District of Leyte on Thursday physically administered the oath to Patrimonio as Lakas-CMD member in his Batasan Complex office.
“I thank House Majority Leader Martin and the Lakas-CMD for giving us a home in the coming election Rest assured that we are going to carry the mission of the party, which is to serve our people,” Patrimonio said.
Patrimonio and Muñoz (Ramona Cecilia Datuin Muñoz), who graduated with a Theater Arts degree from the University of the Philippines (UP), will be running for mayor and councilor, respectively, of Cainta, Rizal.
Ms. Pey A. Velasco, Lakas-CMD executive director, signed their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA).
“We consider these dedicated public servants as assets of Lakas-CMD. Their decision to join the party is not just a proof of their confidence in us but also of the party’s clean and efficient record of public service,” Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, said.
“Knowing they are onboard makes the party and all its members and officials more inspired to keep working hard,” added the UP lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).
“We are equally grateful for our new members from Cainta, Parañaque City, Abucay and Samal in Bataan, and Cotabato, Sarangani and Cavite provinces who also took their oath. We expect to get more support in the coming months as we grow our force for the crucial May 2022 elections,” Romualdez added.
Under the Lakas-CMD ticket of Patrimonio, the team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots and four-time PBA MVP, Muñoz, Gian Carlo Cruz, and Romina Cassandra Valencia will be running for councilors in Cainta.
Cruz and Valencia were also sworn in by Romualdez as Lakas-CMD members. Muñoz submitted her oath of membership to the party.
Moreno, who will run for councilor of Parañaque City, submitted her oath of membership to Velasco, and Onor (Dexter Dominguez in real life) who will run for vice mayor of Abucay, Bataan, took his oath before Romualdez via Zoom last Tuesday.
Veteran actress Moreno, Venesa Moreno Lacsamana in real life, is a Lakas-CMD returnee. She was the first female National President of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in 2012, when she also served as National Secretary-General and National Executive Vice-President.
Onor, a popular comedian, had served as vice mayor of his hometown Abucay, and later as three-termer provincial board member of Bataan province. He will attempt to reclaim his vice mayoralty post next year.
Other politicians who joined the Lakas-CMD oath-taking from Abucay and Samal, Bataan last Tuesday via online ceremony are as follows:
Abucay: Ana D. Santiago, Dante M. Baluyot, Mercedita Canare, Marcelino Soriano Jr., Romeo Dulay, Gil Lingad, Arturo Mungcal, Norberto Carlos, Guillermo DR. Carlos.
Samal: Aida Macalinao, Ronald Ortiguerra, Amelia Dela Rosa, Glenn Velasco, Roman Lazarte Jr., Raymond Navarro, Emmanuel Cortez, Virgilio Dela Cruz Jr and Luis Magpoc.
The following public servants from Cotabato and Sarangani also took their oath via Zoom:
Cotabato: Jonathan M. Tabara (Board Member), Romulo Tapgos (Mayor-Arakan), Ryan Tabanay (Vice Mayor-Makilala), Liezel Mae Caoagdan (Councilor-Makilala), Rex Pinsoy (Councilor- Makilala), Kristine Margaret Ang-Malaluan (Councilor-Makilala), Jasper Ian Andres (Councilor-M’lang), Kenneth Carl Peroy (Councilor-M’lang), and Allan Macasarte (Councilor- Banisilan, Cotabato).
Sarangani Province: Cyril John Rustico Gido Yap (Board Member), Vivien Yap (Mayor-Glan), Enrique Yap, Jr. (Vice Mayor-Glan), Elsan Faith Engkong (Councilor-Glan), Rigel Kent Paraz (Councilor-Glan), Rodolfo Mabuhay (Councilor-Glan), Romeo Sanchez (Councilor-Glan), Vincent Rustico Gido Yap (Councilor-Glan), Angelito Cerna (Councilor-Glan), Ameril Salisipan (Councilor-Glan), and Sherwin Wata (Councilor-Glan).
On Thursday, Dennis Dispo Ayala and Jose River, Jr., both running for councilors, of General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite and Francisco Paolo Poblete Crisostomo, Board Member Katherine Tirona Regudon, Councilor BM Ivee Reyes of Silang, Cavite took their oath as Lakas-CMD before Romualdez via Zoom.