Diamante a traitor to his party – Pablo John

Former Cebu Third District congressman Pablo John Garcia called Tuburan Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante a traitor for claiming that he supported President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 elections.

Diamante has announced to run for a seat in Congress and has started the groundwork by taking the lead in organizing local chapters of PDP-Laban in the Third District.

He also hosted a basic membership seminar (BMS) last Monday, a pre-requisite to becoming a bonafide member of the party.

It was during this event when Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, the national president of the Philippine Councilors League, spoke about the benefits of federalism and expressed support for Diamante, saying that they were together three weeks before the 2016 elections supporting the presidential bid of Duterte.

However, Garcia disproved Dayanghirang's claim by showing newspaper clipping and photos.

“That is clearly false. Everyone knows Diamante was campaigning hard for Mar Roxas and against President Duterte. They even had a miting de avance in Dumanjug. But if they're now saying it's true, then that's even worse because it proves that Diamante was a traitor to his party in 2016. If he was, then how can we be sure of his loyalty now and in the future?" Garcia said.

Garcia and Diamante will be running against each other for congressman of the Third District in the 2019 elections. They will also have to fight for the party nomination from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

A day after the 2016 elections, Diamante in a newspaper report, said he will stick it out with LP in the local level unless Governor Hilario Davide III decides to join the new administration party.

After one year, Diamante formally took his oath as member of the PDP-Laban in Lubao, Pampanga before Pimentel and Alvarez.

“Ang pasabot ato either bakak or traydor diay siya pagkatawo o miyembro sa partido. Asa may iya? Bakakon o traydor?” Garcia said.

Garcia also criticized Diamante for conducting BMS in the Third District where his sister, Representative and House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, is the PDPLaban president.

“Shouldn't they coordinate their activities with her as a simple courtesy?” Pablo John said.

Accordingly, PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III; secretarygeneral House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and vice-chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi are the ones authorized to administer oath of party members.

M. Rubio/MBG