More lawmakers desert Rody’s PDP-Laban

LAWMAKERS have started to jump the political fence, deserting former president Rodrigo Duterte and his PDP-Laban in favor of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) amid his word war with the House leadership headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Reps. Edwin Olivares of Parañaque City, Antonino Calixto of Pasay City, Glona Labadlabad of Zamboanga del Norte, and Eduardo Roa Rama Jr. of Cebu City crossed party lines and took their oaths as new Lakas-CMD members last Monday before Romualdez, who is the party president.

Lakas’ total strength at the House of Representatives now stands at 82, out of the 300 plus members of the lower chamber.

The oath-taking ceremony was administered in a simple rite held at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker in Batasan Complex, Quezon City.

“We are elated to welcome these exceptional individuals into the Lakas-CMD family. Thank you for aligning with us as your entry will infuse fresh perspectives to further strengthen the Lakas-CMD’s commitment to nation-building under President [Ferdinand] Marcos’ administration to champion people’s welfare and interests,” Romualdez said.

Last November 8, former PDP-Laban members Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Reps. Carmelo Lazatin II of Pampanga and Zaldy Villa of Siquijor joined the Lakas-CMD amid the House’s rift with the former president.

Newly sworn-in Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Roberto Uy, a Lakas-CMD member even before his proclamation, is also now part of the 82 House members who are members of the party, after he was proclaimed as the winner of the congressional seat for the province’s first district which was previously occupied by Romeo Jalosjos Jr.

Also on Monday, Pasay City Vice Mayor Waltrudes Del Rosario joined Lakas-CMD, followed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing who was sworn in as Lakas member in the presence of House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe of Zamboanga City and Agusan Del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino.

Romualdez has earlier defended the House of Representatives from what he said were threats and intimidation from critics following the death threats made by the former president against members of the Makabayan bloc,