Lakas-CMD eyes replacing PDP-Laban in Congress

MANILA, Philippines — As the opening of the 19th Congress nears, the ascent of the once-powerful Lakas-CMD party has become imminent and inevitable, most particularly with the expected election of Rep. Martin Romualdez as the next speaker.

From a low of 27, the dominant party of two former presidents – Fidel Ramos and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – now has 60 members in the House of Representatives, resulting in the crumbling of PDP-Laban.

The PDP-Laban of former president Rodrigo Duterte was split between the camps of former senator Manny Pacquiao and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, whose 62 members in the House scrambled to different pro-administration parties.

“We welcome our new members. We are delighted by their decision to join us. We look forward to a productive engagement with them and the rest of our membership,” said Romualdez, a reelected congressman of Leyte’s first district.

Romualdez, who heads the country’s reemerging most dominant party, said Lakas-CMD’s expansion “will strengthen support in Congress for the legislative and unity agenda of President Bongbong Marcos.”

Among the party’s new members are Reps. Joey Salceda (Albay, rejoined), Rachel Arenas (Pangasinan) and Claude Bautista (Davao Occidental) whose oath-taking ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Sara Duterte, Lakas-CMD and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) chairperson. Other members include Maria Vanessa Aumentado of Bohol’s second district and Ian Paul Dy of Isabela’s third district.

Romualdez also administered the oath-taking of Reps. Wilter Yap Palma (Zamboanga Sibugay), Ambrosio Cruz Jr. (Bulacan), Joseph Lara (Cagayan), Francisco Jose Matugas II (Surigao del Norte) and Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes.

Ramos and Arroyo now sit as chairperson emeriti of the Lakas-CMD party, whose president is Romualdez, first cousin of President Marcos and his sister, incumbent Sen. Imee Marcos.

The PDP-Laban membership had started to decline when Duterte was about to step down last June 30, and is expected to decline further as the 19th Congress (2022-2025) convenes on July 25, when Marcos delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

As it is now, the supermajority coalition (about 268 House members) is comprised of Lakas-CMD, PDP-Laban, and other ally-partners like the 39-member Nacionalista Party of billionaire tycoon and former Senate president Manny Villar.

The 34-member National Unity Party headed by Dasmarinas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., at least 60 members of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. of Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero (1Pacman party-list), and nine from opposition Liberal Party are seen also part of it.

There is also the growing Nationalist People’s Coalition founded by the late tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., where NPC stalwart and former Senate President Tito Sotto said may reach 50 members in the House in the incoming Congress, from the base of 36.