Labella to implement reorg in PDP-Laban Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — The newly appointed president of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban)-Cebu City, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, is willing to reach out to former president, Lorna Bacalla, so they can work together to further the agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Let’s just reach out to the so-called grupo ni Bacalla as long as we have the same advocacies. Ang atoang katuyoan kining shift from unitary form to federal, fight against illegal drugs and fight against corruption,” Labella said.

However, there is not definite schedule yet for Labella’s meeting with Bacalla and other officers of PDP-Laban Cebu City.

Labella’s appointment papers as the new PDP-Laban Cebu City Chapter president was signed on February 26 by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, PDP-Laban national president, House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, national secretary general, and Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi.

Labella said that being the new president, he will conduct consultative meeting and among the matters to be discussed is the possible reorganization of the PDP-Laban-Cebu City Chapter.

“We will talk it over. Makig-istory ako nila unsa’y gusto nila nga katuyoan. Anyway, naa naman na.Signed naman under the PDP-Laban rules, the appointment has been signed by the national president, among others.”

The vice mayor was given the authority to call for a reorganization of officers in the local chapter but such is subject to approval from the national headquarters of the party.

Labella said he does not want to alienate Bacalla and the rest of the officers knowing that they are in the same national party.

Labella also stressed that he and Bacalla are in good terms. They are both residents of Barangay Mabolo.

Among his functions as stated in the appointment paper is to start preparing for the 2019 elections.

At the press conference, Mayor Tomas Osmeña criticized the party for not being true to its name.

“What does PDP-Laban stand for? Partido ng Demokratiko but it’s not demokratiko. It’s dictatorship.They should change the name because democratic means you elect.No, no, no, you are president, Mr. Labella. Times have changed, election is over, you are now president. So that’s shows they are betraying themselves.They’re not democratic.They are trying to bully,” he told reporters. (FREEMAN)