2 more House members join Lakas-CMD

Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe R. Abunda (right) and Calamba City Rep. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez-Alcantara (2nd from right) take their oath as new Lakas-CMD members before Speaker Martin G. Romualdez (2nd from left) at the Social Hall of the Speaker’s Office Monday afternoon. Looking on are senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center), former President and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe (left).

MANILA, Philippines — Two more lawmakers have joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), bringing the party’s total membership in the House of Representatives to 66.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Lakas-CMD party president, administered Monday afternoon the oath to Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe R. Abunda and Calamba City Rep. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez-Alcantara during a simple ceremony at the Social Hall of the Speaker’s Office in the House of Representatives.

The oath-taking was witnessed by senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President Emeritus of Lakas-CMD.

Romualdez also administered the oath to Taft Mayor Gina Ty and former Guiuan Mayor Christopher Sheen P. Gonzales, both from Eastern Samar province, as Lakas-CMD members.

“We are happy that two more colleagues of ours in the House have chosen to join us in Lakas-CMD,” Romualdez said.

“We look forward to having a fruitful and pleasant bonding and interaction with them and the rest of our members.”

With 66 congressmen and congresswomen affiliated with it, Lakas-CMD is now the largest political group in the House of Representatives this 19th Congress.

The affiliation of Representatives Abunda and Hernandez-Alcantara followed last month’s membership in the party of Representatives Isidro Ungab and Vincent Garcia of the third and second districts of Davao City, respectively; Alan Dujali of Davao del Norte’s second district, and Josefina Tallado of Camarines Norte’s first district.

Lakas-CMD, an administration party, campaigned hard for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, the party’s chairperson.

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JPV/abc