5K Sibugay officials switch to PDP-Laban

MANILA - Some 5,000 local officials of Zamboanga Sibugay took their oath as new members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez administered the mass oath taking of the politicians coming from the province's 16 municipalities, 2 districts and 390 barangays, at the Ipil Sports Complex in Zamboanga, Sibugay on Saturday, February 24.

Alvarez, secretary general of the party, holds mass oath taking ceremonies every week as the party pushes for federalism. PDP-Laban served as President Rodrigo Duterte's vehicle to win the 2016 elections

The Speaker said the recruitment campaign of PDP-Laban has covered more or less the major provinces in the country.

“Meron na lang ibang mga natitirang probinsya, yung mga hindi ko pa napupuntahan, pero yung mga respective represen- tative nila in Congress halos PDP na rin,” Alvarez said in a press briefing at Hotel Sibugay.

(There are a few remaining provinces that have yet to join the fold of PDP, those that I have yet

to visit. But most of their respective representatives in Congress have already joined PDP.)

“Hopefully ito ay makakatulong sa kampanya tungkol sa federalism. Kasi nga yung advocacy ng PDP ay talagang itong federal form of government,” said Alvarez.

(Hopefully, this would help in our campaign for federalism because PDP’s advocacy is to push for a federal form of government.)

In his message to the crowd, Alvarez urged the new PDPLaban members to support the party's call for a federal government and reiterated that federalism would empower provinces to decide on what is best for them.

He also introduced the lawmakers who will be listed in the PDP-Laban's senatorial slate. He reiterated his call to reject senatorial candidates who would not support federalism.

Among those included in the PDP-Laban's senatorial slate are Negros Oriental Representative Alberto "Albee" Benitez, Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles and Maguindanao Rep. Sajid Mangudadatu.

“Hindi naman siguro ako mapapahiya sa linyada na ito (don’t think this line-up would let me down)," Alvarez said, referring to the four lawmakers who also attended the event.