Revilla new Lakas-CMD chair, Romualdez new president

LAKAS LEADERS. Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. (right) and Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez after their appointment Tuesday as chairman and president, respectively, of the Lakas-CMD political party. Photo by Cynthia Marizze Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was elected as chairman of the Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party on Tuesday, filling in the void left by its former chairman Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who replaced Revilla as president of the party, told reporters in a press conference that the senator was chosen to fill in the vacancy left by Lagman who quit being chairman and House minority leader last year due to alleged moves to oust him from the opposition bloc.

Romualdez said that the “natural reaction” was to fill the vacuum left by Lagman’s resignation and “the most effective leader we can get is Senator Revilla.”

Revilla, meanwhile, said he was confident that Romualdez was fit to replace him as president of Lakas. “Alam kong malaki ang maitutulong ni Martin sa partido”.

The two will work jointly to strengthen and revitalize Lakas-CMD by supporting their local candidates and choosing from the senatorial tickets of the Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance coalition candidates who shared their ideals.

When this move drew questions on the party’s stand as the genuine opposition, Revilla answered that they were “for the people… Walang oposisyon, walang administrasyon.”