Photo by Marlon Ramos
Outgoing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is now officially a member of the Liberal Party.
In a brief ceremony on Friday morning, De Lima was sworn in as LP member administered by Senate President and LP vice chairman Franklin Drilon at the Balay Headquarters in Quezon City.
De Lima’s oath-taking was witnessed by LP standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
“Buong buo na po ang pasya ko na harapin ang bagong hamon sa buhay ko… Wala po akong ibang sasamahan kung hindi LP,” she said.
(My decision to face the new challenge in my life is firm. I have no other party to join but the LP.)
READ: De Lima included in 2016 LP senatorial slate, waiting for ‘official announcement’ | De Lima denies quit-DOJ rumors; admits waiting for LP invite
De Lima is set to step down as Department of Justice secretary as she had openly declared her Senate bid under the LP.
The announcement of the administration coalition’s senatorial lineup is to be revealed on Monday.
Aside from De Lima, more than a hundred local officials from the provinces of Bulacan, La Union and Bataan also took their oath as members of the ruling party.
Some of the officials transferred to LP from the National Unity Party.
Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently spoke before NUP officials and members, asking for their support in the 2016 elections. CDG