Thursday, October 5, 2017
BY CARLA GOMNEZ & CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who led the mass oathtaking of about 13,000 new Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan members in Negros Occidental yesterday, rallied their forces to support President Rodrigo Duterte amid what he called moves to derail the administration's efforts to bring about change.

He also called on the new PDP Laban members to back the senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban in 2019, who would include representatives Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District) and Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1 st District) to ensure the ruling party will dominate the Upper Chamber.

“In 2019 I am asking you, if you fully support the President, support the candidates of PDP-Laban for the Senate,” he said, with a 12-0 vote.

He said the Lower House had passed 180 legislative measures with only less than 10 acted in the Senate, so far.

The Speaker led the massoathtaking of more than 10,000 new PDP Laban members at the Victorias Coliseum in Victorias City organized by Benitez at about 10 a.m. and close to 3,000 organized by Bacolod Mayor EvelioLeonardia at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos in Bacolod City at past noon yesterday.

“Thank you for your show of support for the president by joining his party, PDP Laban,” Alvarez said.

“The Duterte administration is continuously under attack by those who cannot accept defeat,” he said.

The president promised change for the country but they are doing everything to prevent him from fulfilling that, he said.

“We will not allow them to succeed, we will do everything to deliver the promises made by the president during his campaign,” he said.

“He promised genuine reforms, we will deliver them come hell or high waters”, Alvarez said.

Change will happen, because the president will deliver, Alvarez said, with the support of the people.

Alvarez said those who are planning moves to oust the president should not eventry it, because they will not take it sitting down.

Alvarez was accompanied by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi - PDP Laban national vice chairman, and Deputy Internal Revenue Commissioner Clint Aranas – PDP Laban national treasurer.

DRUGS

Before he administered the oath of officeto the new members in Bacolod City, Alvarez asked the crowd dominated by barangay officials if there was anyone engaged in illegal drugs.

He said the President does not want anyone involved in drugs to be a member of the PDP Laban. If ever they are, they should join the Liberal Party instead, he added.

BENITEZ

Benitez said he is now going around the country to see if the people will accept his plan to run for senator, which will be the basis for his decision. There has to be acceptance, he said.

Negros Occidental officials led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Bacolod officials, led by Leonardia, have expressed support for the Senate bid of Benitez.

Leonardia declared during the oathtaking in Bacolod that their party, the GrupoProgreso, is endorsing the bid of Benitez for the Senate.

ROMAN

Roman, the first transgender woman elected to Congress, said she belonged to another political party, but when the president won she decided it was time to leave politics behind and get down to work.

She noted that the number one agenda of the PDP Laban is the shift toward a federal form of government to bring progress to the rest of the Philippines, instead of having a highly centralized government with all the progress and development concentrated in Metro Manila.

Roman also cited the party's commitment to support the president's fight versus drugs and crime in the country that must be addressed for the country to further grow.

The congresswoman also noted the commitment of the PDP-Laban to help the poor and for equality among all.

The new PDP Laban members will be tapped to push the campaign for a federal form of government that will go full swing next year, PDP Laban Negros Island secretary general Yves Akol said.

IN VICTORIAS

Representatives present at the PDP-Laban oathtaking rites in Victorias,aside from Benitez, were GregGasataya (Bacolod) and Stephen Paduano (AbangLingkodPartylist).

The 15 mayors who also attended the mass oathtaking rites in Victorias were Lourdes Escalante – Manapla, Richard Jaococo – Toboso, MagdalenoPeña – Moises Padilla, JilsonTubillara – San Enrique, Patrick Escalante - Cadiz City, Enrique Miravalles – Valladolid, Andrew Montelibano - Murcia, RhumylaNicor-Mangilimutan – La Castellana,Eddie Montero - Escalante, Francis Palanca – Victorias City, Mark Golez – Silay City, JoselitoMalabor – Isabela, Marvin Malacon – EB Magalona, Neil Lizares – Talisay, and NadieArceo – Hinigaran.

IN BACOLOD

Bacolod officials present at the oathtaking rites at UNO-R were Leonardia, Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, councilors EmAng, Caesar Distrito, RenecitoNovero, Noli Villarosa, and Bartolome Orola, and City Administrator John Orola.*CPG/CGS