Lakas-CMD back as largest House power bloc

MANILA, Philippines — The once powerful Lakas-CMD party that catapulted to power the late former president Fidel Ramos and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has re-emerged to be the most dominant organization under the 280-strong supermajority coalition supporting President Marcos.

The ruling party, now headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and whose president emeritus is Arroyo, now has a total of 82 members in the 311-member House of Representatives, the most among political parties under the administration coalition.

The political party disclosed it reached the 82 number after four more House members left their parties and joined the ruling party, among them Reps. Edwin Olivares (Parañaque), Antonio Calixto (Pasay), Glona Labadlabad (Zamboanga del Norte) and Eduardo Roa Rama Jr. (Cebu).

Romualdez administered the oath to the latest members, saying they all “share a common goal of serving the Filipino people with integrity and dedication under President Marcos’ administration.”

“Our party remains steadfast in its dedication to nation-building and we thank those joining us for committing to contribute to shaping a better and progressive Philippines,” he said.

“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 Marcos’ administration, to champion people’s welfare and interests,” Romualdez said.

Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Rep. Roberto Uy, a Lakas-CMD member even before his proclamation, is now also a part of the 82 members of the party. Uy officially took his oath Monday as congressman before the Speaker at the Plenary Hall of the House.

Olivares, Calixto, Labadlabad and Rama were former members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), whose former chairman is former president Duterte.

Also on Monday, Pasay City Vice Mayor Waltrudes del Rosario joined Lakas-CMD.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s third district, who was forced to resign from PDP-Laban after he named Duterte as the one who launched a vilification campaign against the House and its leadership, has now joined the ruling Lakas-CMD party.

The inclusion of Gonzales, along with fellow PDP-Laban members – Reps. Carmelo Lazatin II of Pampanga and Zaldy Villa of Siquijor – initially brought to 77 the total number of Lakas-CMD members in the lower chamber.

“We are very honored to welcome SDS Dong, Cong. Jon and Cong. Zaldy to our party. They are a great addition to the strength and diversity of Lakas-CMD, which is a coalition of hard-working public servants,” Romualdez said.