5 LP congressmen join super majority coalition

MANILA, Philippines - Five allies of former president Benigno Aquino III in the once dominant Liberal Party have jumped ship, joining the super majority coalition in the House of Representatives led by the now ruling PDP-Laban party of President Duterte. 

They are Reps. Winston Castelo and Alfred Vargas of Quezon City, Geraldine Roman of Bataan, Ansaruddin Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato. 

These former LP members were sworn in yesterday at the office of PDP-Laban stalwart and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Quezon City District 3 Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto were also sworn in last night at the office of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president.

“Frankly, we have no choice but to understand their decision. Those that have asked permission have stated their deep concern for their districts and the coming 2019 elections,” said Deputy Speaker Romero Quimbo, the highest LP official in the House.

“They’ve been convinced that the best way to get reelected is by joining the majority party. These are political realities that face many leaders,” he added.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the LP, wished Adiong, Catamco, Roman, Vargas and all former LP partymates well.

He noted that 115 congressmen were voted into office as LP members. 

“But the attraction and admittedly the benefits of being part of the good graces of Malacañang were hard to resist; thus, the exodus of party members to the fold of the new ruling party,” Pangilinan said.

Vargas said he was just “heeding the request and will” of his constituents.

“It is clear that the people are supportive of the administration. As a representative, I have to heed to the wisdom of our people. The PDP-Laban and the administration have made an initial success in poverty alleviation and we are supportive with this,” he added. 

Rep. Rodito Albano III of Isabela, vice chairman of the 12-man House contingent in the powerful Commission on Appointments, also transferred from the Nacionalista Party (NP) to PDP-Laban. 

Other lawmakers who have jumped to PDP-Laban are Reps. Scott Davies Lanete of Masbate and Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga del Sur, both members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition; Albano’s former NP colleague Rep. Munir Arbison of Sulu; and Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo of Lakas-CMD party.

Practically the entire 294-member House comprise the super majority coalition since only the Magnificent 7 compose the independent opposition bloc, while the Makabayan bloc has been supportive of Duterte’s programs.  

The 22 or so members of the minority bloc led by Minority Leader Danilo Suarez have not been as hard-hitting as that of the independent lawmakers led by Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, an LP stalwart. 

Pangilinan also lamented that the LP was being decimated because of “unprovoked, relentless and baseless attacks.”

He said the new party leadership took over six months ago and the challenges are enormous, both internal and external to the organization and the individual members.

“We don’t have the resources – time, people, or money – for all the accusations the social media trolls and some government officials have thrown at us,” Pangilinan said.

He said the LP has been in the process of “reflection, reconnecting and redefining,” which he stressed were crucial requisites to rebuilding.