Duterte is new PDP-Laban chair

Presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte became the new chairperson of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the party announced on Sunday.

Duterte became the party’s standard-bearer after he substituted for Martin Diño last November. He succeeded former South Cotabato Ismael Sueño.

In a statement, PDP-Laban President Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that a Duterte-led PDP-Laban will “inspire and energize” the party’s ranks.

“Mayor Duterte’s leadership will certainly inspire and energize our party ranks toward realizing an electoral victory this coming May polls.”

“We have complete faith in him. Together with his vision, grit, and political will, we will win a better future for our people,” Pimentel said.

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban spokesperson and lawyer Paola Alvarez said that the election of the feisty mayor to the presidency will bring “brave solutions” to the burden of the masses.

“Makakaasa ang taumbayan na ang PDP-Laban sa ilalim ng liderato ni Mayor Duterte ay may matapang na solusyon upang tapusin ang araw-araw na gulo at hirap na dinadanas ng tao. Hindi na pwede ang mga lumang pangako o konting pagbabago na nauuwi pa rin sa gulo. Ang kailangan ng bansa ay tunay na pagbabago,” Alvarez said.

PDP-Laban celebrated its 34^th anniversary last Saturday, Feb. 6. It also applied to be the dominant majority, dominant minority or one of the top 10 national parties in the May elections before Commission on Elections.

According to the latest Pulse Asia presidential preference survey, Duterte is currently statistically tied in second place with Vice President Jejomar Binay and administration bet Mar Roxas II. JE