New PDP-Laban members warned

CEBU, Philippines — Those who took oath as members of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino - Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Cebu who will be found linked to illegal drugs will lose their membership with the party.

"Tangtangon gyud basta naa sila sa listahan sa druglists," warned PDP-Laban Secretary General, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

It was Alvarez who administered the oath to over 50,000 at the Plaza Independencia last Friday.

Prior to the oath taking, the party warned it will not accept politicians or supporters who are linked to drugs or have pending drug cases in court but Alvarez said it may be possible, considering the number, that a few might have slipped.

"Dili man gyud na nato malikayan nga naay sipyat ba pero og makita nato sa atong listahan nga apil ning mga tawhana sa drugas then they will be notified ug tangtangon gyud isip miyembro sa PDP-Laban," he said.

This is important, he said, because those who took their oath are expected to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s reform agenda, especially the war against drugs and corruption campaign.

In fact, the party did not invite former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama to its fold, citing his inclusion on Duterte’s list of alleged narco-politicians.

Unity needed

Alvarez said the membership drive would help Duterte fulfill his campaign promises.

"Iyaha gyud ang tumanon ang tanan niyang mga campaign promises that is why we need everybody's support and cooperation,” said.

Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia channeled the same message to the crowd at the plaza last Friday.

"We declare freedom from political disunity and political divisiveness. We declare once again, Cebu is one behind President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” she said.

She recalled several years ago when three congressmen pushed to divide the province politically, a move that failed eventually.

"Tuig 2007, napulo katuig na ang nilabay. Niadtong tungora, ang lalawigan sa sugbo, gi-hulga nga buak-buakon. Tulo ka kongresista nga hapit na matapos ang ilang termino buot magmugna og kanilang kaugalingong mga probinsya,” she recalled.

The three are former Cebu representatives Antonio Yapha Jr., Clavel Asas-Martínez, and Simeon Kintanar. They proposed to split Cebu into three provinces - Cebu del Norte, Cebu del Sur, and Cebu Occidental.

“Apan niadtong tungora, nagkahiusa ang tanang mga Sugbuanon ug sa usa ka nga naglanog-lanog nga tingog, nagkahiusang nisinggit, ‘no to Sugbuak’,” Garcia said.

This time around, she said, the political climate is enabling the province’s leaders to come together for one objective.

"Kita ang mga Sugbuanong nagkahiusa tang Presidente Duterte ug mao kana ang atong rason og nganong ania kita karon. Because this is one giant step, usa ka dakong hakbang, lakang pasidulong sa pagbalik na usab sa kahiusaan kining atong lalawigan, kini atong pinalanggang Sugbo,” she added.

Probation

Aside from Garcia, all Cebu congressmen except for Cebu City Representatives Raul del Mar (North District) and Rodrigo Abellanosa (South District) were present at the plaza.

Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza, and Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella were also spotted.

But Noel Calanzo Felongco, the interim president of PDP-Laban for Region 7, said those who took their oath are considered probationary members.

"As interim Regional President of PDP-Laban Region 7, I welcome these politicians who are transferring to PDP-Laban. But, they must know that the party is a peoples' party and it has ideologies. It also has recognized party structures and discipline. They cannot dictate and replace the existing organized councils. They must follow the party constitution. They must realize that there is no equity of the incumbent in the party. They have to undergo a basic membership seminar to know all these things. No exception!!. Without the mandatory BMS, these politicians are ONLY considered probationary members. TAKE NOTE: they are probi members NOT leaders," his Facebook post reads. (FREEMAN)