Labella now heads PDP-Laban in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — The Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) has formalized the appointment of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella as president of the party’s council in Cebu City.

PDP-Laban national president, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel; national secretary general, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez; and vice chairman, Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed Labella’s appointment papers last February 26, 2018.

Councilor Raymond Garcia first posted documents of Labella’s appointment on his Facebook account.

Garcia told The Freeman he posted the documents online to make it clear that Labella is, indeed, now the president of the PDP-Laban Cebu City Council.

“Even if naka oath na siya, wala pa man gyu’y appointment papers signed by the three national officers, so karon nga naa na, at least it will now clear the air as to who is the rightful president of the PDP-Laban,” Garcia said.

Labella took oath before Alvarez in Malacañang on January 17.

Garcia said he got a copy of Labella’s appointment papers last Friday in Manila where he is attending to important commitments.

“It was unsigned by vice as acceptance ba kay I just got it kay I’m here in Manila man so inig abot nako sa Cebu on Monday (today), I will have vice sign it and send it back to national office,” he said.

Garcia clarified that Labella’s appointment as Cebu Council president does not mean former president Lorna Bacalla will be alienated. He said he and other Barug-PDP Laban affiliated officials want to work with Bacalla.

“We are a stronger party together kaysa magbuwag-buwag ta so we are extending our hand reaching out to them and to further the agenda of the president and of PDP-Laban, which are federalism, anti-corruption and anti-drugs, together we are stronger group,” he said.

In a separate interview, Bacalla said she has no problem working with other members of the party. She said she will inquire about Labella’s appointment with the national headquarters.

PDP-Laban regional president, Atty. Noel Felongco, said they will respect Labella’s appointment but, like Bacalla, has not received a copy of the appointment papers.

“Kung naa man gyud, amoa nang respetohan, amoang i-recognize,” Felongco said.

He said that as president, Labella will have the authority to reorganize the council, albeit the same would need approval from the national headquarters.

Labella’s appointment papers give him the authority to exercise powers and perform duties and functions vested upon him.

These are to lead and direct the party and its members to make culture skill towards party-based politics and promote positive change towards achieving a better quality of life for each and every Filipino, pursue local programs to institutionalize the major party platforms to fight drugs, corruption, criminality and terrorism.

His other responsibilities include forwarding to the national headquarters the names of all party members in the province, the organization of chapters and councils at different levels, execute and implement all party directives and programs within his jurisdiction, and start preparing for the 2019 elections. (FREEMAN)