Unite, serve, Sara tells new Lakas members
VICE President Sara Duterte urged new members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) to unite and serve the Filipino people.
“As servant-leaders of our respective communities, we are called to steadfastly adhere to and live by the principles of Lakas-CMD that have fostered dignified and exemplary leadership from our peers in the party,” Duterte said during the joint mass oath-taking of Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte members at the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center.
Duterte is the chairman of the party founded by former president Fidel V. Ramos and is now led by Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Duterte said that the eight-point economic agenda of the Marcos administration will help the party in promoting local economic stability, lasting peace, transformative social change, and socioeconomic growth.
She also said that the growing number of new members from Luzon and the Visayas is not only a “positive indication of our political gains, but most importantly, it signifies our larger role in creating impactful changes that will benefit the future of our nation when it comes to governance.”
She urged new Lakas-CMD members to remain at the forefront of collective aspiration, telling them that the “good of our nation lies at the core of our noble mission in this movement.”
“I urge you to continue working hand in hand in shaping a brighter future for our country and enabling avenues of sustainable growth for the improved welfare of every Filipino,” Duterte said.
In a related development, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez administered the mass oath-taking of more than 200 new members of the Lakas-CMD, which is made up of incumbent and former local officials from Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte. The mass oath-taking was held at the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center in Tagum City.
“I’m glad that you are here with us and that you have joined the party,” said Romualdez, president of LakasCMD.
He informed the new party members that they are “in great company,” pointing out that Lakas-CMD has previously produced two presidents and is currently the majority political party in the House.
With the party’s rising momentum, Romualdez believes it will play a critical role in advancing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Prosperity Plan.
He emphasized that Congress has approved the President’s mediumterm fiscal framework, which is intended to accelerate the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
“Thank you so much for your attendance and participation, and for your involvement with Lakas,” Romualdez added.
The mass oath-taking was witnessed by members of the LakasCMD Executive Committee, including Duterte, the party’s chairman; former president-turned-Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe; and Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro.
Also present during the oath taking are other allies and members of Lakas, including Davao Oriental Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao del Norte Rep. Aldi Dujali, Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Carlo “Oyo” Uy, Davao de Oro Vice Gov. Tyron Uy, Tagum Mayor Rey Uy, Monkayo Mayor Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, former Davao del Norte governors Rodolfo Del Rosario and Anthony del Rosario, and former Davao de Oro governor Arturo Uy.
Furthermore, hundreds of village executives from Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte witnessed the mass oath-taking of new party members.
Prior to the mass oath-taking, prospective new Lakas-CMD members went through an orientation to learn about their roles and obligations.