2 House execs named RVPs in Pacquiao-led PDP-Laban

MANILA, Philippines — Two deputy speakers of the House of Representatives, both stalwarts of the ruling PDP-Laban party, have been installed as new officers in their own jurisdictions following the assumption of the party’s presidency by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Reps. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s third district and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur’s second district were named regional vice presidents for Luzon and Caraga, respectively.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, another party stalwart, was designated as the new executive vice president of the political party, and was sworn in by the administration senator and former congressman of Sarangani province.

Gonzales and Pimentel took their oath of office before Pacquiao over the weekend.

Sen. Koko Pimentel, former PDP-Laban president, said he decided to relinquish his post to give way to a new set of younger leaders. He said Pacquiao would bring “energy and discipline” to the party.

Addressing his party mates after taking over from Pimentel last week, Pacquiao urged them to shun all forms of corruption, which he said deprives the poor of vital services and drives them deeper into poverty.

PDP-Laban, the party of President Duterte who serves as its executive chairman, counts among its members five senators, 58 congressmen, 43 governors, 22 vice governors, 257 board members, 608 mayors, 541 vice mayors, 4,081 councilors, and more than 100,000 barangay leaders all over the country.

Ron Munsayac, the party’s executive director, denied insinuations Pacquiao’s assumption had something to do with the May 2022 presidential race.

He said a Pacquiao-led PDP-Laban party will have more activities and avenues to help our kababayans (countrymen) in the grassroots level.

“Senator Pacquiao will bring not only more energy to the party in the sense of expanding its membership, but also more discipline to the current members in the sense of inculcating in them the concept of principles-based politics,” Munsayac said.

The PDP-Laban official revealed Pacquiao will also “start educating the party and the public about his advocacy on ‘peace and economics’” most especially because the boxer’s life story is so real that it was a classic rags-to-riches story.

“We are composed mostly of grassroots community leaders so the party will provide a nationwide organization and avenues to directly reach and benefit the poorest of the poor, the voiceless, and the defenseless of our nation that Senator Manny was once a part and now a champion of,” Munsayac added.

Pacquiao himself said as much when he addressed the party during its assembly on Wednesday night at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar events place in Quezon City.

“We’re not beholden to big businesses, foreign entities, nor vested interests, but only to the Filipino people. We’re here to fight for the poor, the jobless, the homeless, the voiceless and the hopeless. This is what the PDP-Laban under me will stand for,” he said.