PDP-Laban on recruitment binge in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is now recruiting and orienting members from North Cotabato’s 18 towns and this city in preparation for the 2019 midterm elections and to enhance countryside support towards federalism.

Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol, designated earlier as official party chair for North Cotabato by Senate and PDP-Laban president Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, is leading the three-leg recruitment and screening process.

Piñol, backed by other lecturers on party vision-mission and federalism, held the first leg of membership workshops on Thursday in his hometown of M’lang for the third Congressional District of North Cotabato.

Some 2,000 participants from M’lang, Tulunan, Matalam, Kabacan and Carmen towns joined Thursday’s pre-membership workshop, Piñol said.

The Manila Bulletin interviewed Piñol over the phone yesterday morning while his camp was preparing for the second workshop leg at the JC Complex here for prospect members from the second Congressional district comprising this city and the towns of Makilala, Magpet, President Roxas, Antipas and Arakan.

According to Piñol, the workshop’s third leg will be held today at the Midsayap municipal gymnasium for people from the first Congressional district, which covers the host town as well as Pigcawayan Libungan, Banisilan, Pikit, Aleosan and Alamada municipalities.

Earlier, Piñol said he accepted the party provincial chairmanship because he wanted to institute reforms in the selection of administration official candidates for local positions in North Cotabato.

He recalled that in past elections, Manila-based leaders of parties were the ones selecting candidates in provinces, ignoring the wisdom and efforts of party officials.