Logo of Lakas-CMD political party (File photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Despite recent rumors about a leadership squabble in the House of Representatives, Lakas-CMD bolstered its party membership with the addition of 19 new members on Tuesday.
Information from the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez showed that the following officials joined Lakas-CMD:
- Roberto “Pinpin” Uy Jr.
- former Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Roberto Uy Sr.,
- Mayor Lorrymir “Rey” Adasa (Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Marissa Manigsaca (Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Rosendo Labadlabad (Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Allan Ferrater (Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Jose Micheal Meiko Wong (Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Eugene Caballero (Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Ismael Renquijo Jr. (President Manuel Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Alberto Bongcawel (Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Salvador “Jun” Antojado Jr. (Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Jelster Ed Tiu Quimbo (Labason, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Norabeth Tuse Carloto (Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Councilor Andrei Romualdez, (Julita, Leyte)
- Evelyn Uy
- Mayor Eufracio Caidic (Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Mayor Darel Dexter Uy (Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Eddie Justin Quimbo (Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte)
- Roberto “Jun” Uy Jr. (Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte)
Lakas-CMD is the party that Romualdez and Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo belong to. Romualdez is the party president, while Arroyo is the president emerita of the said group.
“We welcome our new members, and we are happy that they affiliated themselves with Lakas-CMD, which has committed itself to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Agenda for Prosperity and eight-point socio-economic development roadmap,” Romualdez said.
“(I hope) we will have a fruitful engagement with those joining our ranks and, of course, with our existing members,” he added.
Romualdez and Arroyo were present during the oath-taking ceremonies, along with key members of the party like Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, who is also the party’s executive vice president; and party secretary general and Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II.
Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., was recently named as the House senior deputy speaker in lieu of Arroyo, who was named as deputy speaker, taking the spot that Gonzales vacated.
Last Thursday Arroyo confirmed that her recent actions were misinterpreted as a plot to unseat Romualdez, who held the speakership since the start of the 19th Congress.
Arroyo clarified that she no longer seeks the speaker post, having seen the wisdom in having Romualdez elected as the House leader.
During Monday’s session, Romualdez approached Arroyo to seemingly quash talks of a political quarrel. Arroyo was also seen walking with Gonzales — and eventually holding Romualdez and Gonzales’ hands at the rostrum.