PDP-Laban execs meeting in Cebu

Former president Rodrigo Duterte and other officials of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino--Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will meet in Cebu City tomorrow, April 19.

PDP-Laban-Visayas vice president and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said around 1,500 party members, mostly officials from different areas in the country, will be coming for the convergence meeting.

According to the PDP-Laban website, the party has around a hundred thousand regular members nationwide. These include four senators---Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, and Robin Padilla.

PDP-Laban also has six representatives, 18 governors, 26 vice governors, 206 board members, 399 mayors, 387 vice mayors, and 2,875 councilors.

“This is an assembly of leaders, of believers, of the first philosophy and principles, aspirations and advocacies of PDP Laban,” Rama said.

Rama, however, said he does not want to be elaborating who among the prominent party members are coming, except for the former president, because some of them might have other pressing matters to attend to.

The mayor admitted that discussions about politics during the meeting cannot be avoided. He, however, said the convergence will focus on renewing their commitment to the party’s mission.

PDP-Laban’s mission includes fighting against corruption, eradication of poverty, jobs generation, defeating terrorism, sustaining economic growth and advancement of peace and orders, educational reforms, decentralization and local government empowerment, and strengthening national defense and foreign relations.

“You cannot escape that there will be political discussions, but the most important thing is really highlighting that we still exit...We are still alive…That we will be renewing, bringing to consciousness the principles and philosophy, we call it-mission/goal and at the same time, ideology,” he said.

Cebu City has been chosen to be the venue of the said convergence since most of their gatherings in the past had been done in Luzon and some in Mindanao.

Last week, Cebu City also hosted the fourth convergence meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines where Rama is the national president. –