7 lawmakers from Duterte-chaired PDP-Laban defect to Romualdez-led Lakas CMD

At least seven lawmakers from PDP-Laban, the political party chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte, have jumped ship to Lakas-CMD, the ruling party led by Speaker Martin Romualdez.

This developed after four more former PDP-Laban members took their oaths as new Lakas-CMD members on Monday, exactly a week after the House leadership led by Romualdez denounced the remarks made by Duterte against the House.

In a television program, the former president described the House of Representatives as the “most rotten institution" following the legislative body’s decision to realign the confidential funds for civilian agencies, including the Office of Vice President and the Department of Education, both under Sara Duterte, the elder Duterte’s daughter.

The latest additions to Lakas-CMD are representatives Edwin Olivares of Parañaque, Antonio Calixto of Pasay City, Glona Labadlabad of Zamboanga del Norte and Eduardo Rama, Jr. of Cebu. 

The four lawmakers followed the footsteps of former PDP-Laban solons Senior Deputy Speaker Aufelio "Dong" Gonzales (Pampanga), Carmelo Lazatin (Pampanga) and Zaldy Villa (Siquijor) who joined Lakas-CMD last November 8.

The House leadership denounced Duterte’s tirade on November 6, with Speaker Romualdez vowing to fight against those who malign the House. 

“Let it be said, never must we countenance or allow others not so likely-minded individuals who choose to malign or put down the image of this institution and dictate the direction we must go," Romualdez said.

"I urge everyone to rally behind our true moral compass – the will of the people,” he added.

Although Romualdez did not mention any names, it was Gonzales who called out the elder Duterte as the person maligning the House.

During the plenary session, Gonzales resigned as PDP-Laban member and treasurer before naming Duterte in response to a question posed by opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman, as regards to the identity of the person being denounced by the House leadership.

“We are elated to welcome these exceptional individuals into the Lakas-CMD family. Thank you for aligning with us as your entry will infuse fresh perspectives to further strengthen the Lakas-CMD’s commitment to nation-building under President [Ferdinand] Marcos Jr.’s administration to champion people’s welfare and interests,” Romualdez said during Monday’s oath-taking ceremony.

With the defections, the number of Lakas-CMD members in the House of Representatives rose to 82. There are 316 seats in the 19th Congress.—RF, GMA Integrated News