2 Northern Samar officials join PDP-Laban

LAOANG, Northern Samar – The pro-administration PDP-Laban in Eastern Visayas has further strengthened its ranks with the affiliation of two top Northern Samar officials.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez administered the oath on Northern Samar Governor Jose L. Ong Jr. and Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Edwin C. Ong at the House of Representatives the other day.

Alvarez swore in Governor Ong and Rep. Ong in the presence of Leyte 3rd District Rep. Vicente "Ching" Veloso and House Sergeant-At-Arms Ronald Detabali at the Speaker's Office.

With the affiliation of Governor Ong and Rep.Ong, who both ran and won under the National Unity Party (NUP) in coalition with the administration, almost all of the governors and congressmen of Eastern Visayas are now members of the PDP-Laban.

Last November 18, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III administered the mass oath-taking of Leyte, Samar, Southern Leyte, and Biliran officials held at the Leyte Academic Center in Pawing, Palo, Leyte organized by former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla.

Among the congressmen and governors who took their oath as new PDP members were Leyte Rep. Vicente S. Veloso, Rep. Henry C. Ong, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, Biliran Governor Gerardo Espina Jr., Southern Leyte Governor Christopher Yap, and Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan-Delos Santos.

Around 3,000 local officials of Leyte led by Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, Vice Mayor Mike L. Cari, San Juan, Southern Leyte Mayor Virgilio A. Mortera and town to board members, vice mayors, councilors and barangay chairmen joined in the mass oath-taking after attending the basic membership seminar.