PDP-Laban widens recruitment in Davao del Norte

MANILA, Philippines — The ruling political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan party last Friday kicked off the long weekend with 30,000 new members taking their oaths in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

“It’s the beginning of a long weekend, but PDP Laban is not resting on its mission of spreading Change and Federalizing the Philippines. Our 30,0000 new members here in the home province of our secretary general will significantly bolster our efforts”, Senate President Aquilino “Koko Pimentel III, who is also party president, said.

Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao Del Norte) — PDP-Laban secretary general — led the mass oath-taking ceremony at the University of Southeastern Philippines . They were joined by Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu (2nd District of Maguindanao) and Reynaldo Umali ( 2nd District of Oriental Mindoro.)

The new PDP-Laban members are from the five municipalities and one city under the province’s District 1, where Alvarez is congressman, and two cities and three municipalities of District 2 of Davao Del Norte.

“As much as possible we are trying to increase the members of the party to support the advocacies of the administration, especially the advocacies of our President,” Alvarez was quoted in an ambush interview.

In his message to the new members of the PDP-Laban, Pimentel credited Alvarez for the rapid growth of their party. He said that when Alvarez joined, there were only 20,000 members.

The party’s president said Alvarez played a big role in expanding the party despite those who discredited the secretary general.

“Do you know the membership of PDP now, nationwide and internationally? We now have 300,000 registered PDP members. I have not done so much in that regard. The one who is really responsible for the growth of the party is Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez,” Pimentel said.

Party said it would close its doors last November

Last October, Pimentel said that PDP-Laban will no longer accept new members by the end of November. This was after several others jumped ship from their respective parties.

Pimentel said then that the party needs time to prepare for the May 2019 national and local elections.

During the oath-taking ceremony, Alvarez urged the new members of the ruling party to support President Rodrigo Duterte in his advocacies, including the federalism. He also called for support for the party's senatorial candidates in the 2019 mid-term elections. 

PDP-Laban has yet to release its final senatorial slate.