Lapu-Lapu execs now LP members

CEBU, Philippines - More officials in Cebu have switched allegiance to the administration party.

Yesterday, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and all members of the City Council led by Vice Mayor Marcial Ycong took oath as new members of the Liberal Party.

In a statement, Radaza said that the oathtaking, held at around 11:30 a.m. at the LP headquarters in Quezon City, was administered by LP Secretary-General and Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento.

"Nagkahiusa na ang (mga opisyal sa) Lapu-Lapu. (Lapu-Lapu (officials are) now united)," Radaza said.

The oathtaking was scheduled to be administered by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

But Roxas was unable to make it as he was in Zamboanga City to attend to the peace and order crisis there.

Since the party wanted the oathtaking to push through, Sarmiento went on to preside the event.

Few weeks ago, Lapu-Lapu City Representative Aileen Radaza also took oath as a member of LP.

While the Radaza administration was not allied with the LP in the last election, it supported some of senatorial bets of the administration.

Mayor Radaza has always been supportive of the administration, saying earlier that her programs are aligned with Malacañang.

Lapu-Lapu City has been recipient of several big projects like the rehabilitation of the circumferential road which was inaugurated by President Aquino last summer.

Radaza said they are confident that the city will receive more support from Palace.

For its part, the camp of businessman Efrain Pelaez, who lost in the mayoralty race against Radaza, said the entry of Radaza into the LP will not affect his relationship with the party.

Pelaez's spokesman Cerwin Eviota said that the businessman has a direct communication with the President and Roxas. Pelaez is the city's LP leader since the 2010 presidential election.

The camp of Pelaez claimed that Roxas and Aquino were not aware of the entry of Radaza into the party. —/LPM (FREEMAN)