Senate President and PDP Laban Koko Pimentel III, together with House Speaker and PDP Laban Secretary General Bebot Alvarez, were present as the leadership of the province of Compostela Valley and of the regional center Tagum City, Davao del Norte, pledged their allegiance to the ruling party PDP Laban in twin events this weekend.
Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Vice Governor Manuel Zamora, 1st District Representative Maria Carmen Zamora, and 2nd District Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga led almost all of Compostela Valley’s provincial and municipal officials in an oath-taking ceremony, and was followed by Mayor Allan Rellon of Tagum City swearing in 7,000 new members of the Party on Monday.
“By joining PDP Laban, Compostela Valley and Tagum City are declaring their support for the Party’s, and the President’s, agenda for Change. They will stand with us as we shift to Federalism, wage war against drugs, end corruption, and uplift our countrymen from poverty”, said Pimentel.
Joining Pimentel and Alvarez were Department of Energy Secretary and PDP Laban Vice Chair Alfonso Cusi, and Representatives Karlo Nograles of Davao City and Geraldine Roman of Bataan.
Cusi expressed his appreciation for the enthusiastic support of Compostela Valley officials, saying, “I am very happy with the very solid support shown by the leaders of Compostela Valley and Tagum City for the programs of our Party Chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte.”
Pimentel, referring to previous events where provincial officials took their oaths en masse as Party members, said, “There is no stopping Change. Province by province, we are gathering the momentum we need to sweep away the old structure that allowed our problems to fester for generations.”
With such a massive show of force from the Party, Alvarez warned the new members about those who seek to cash in by associating with PDP Laban.
Alvarez said, “As legitimate members of PDP Laban, it is your duty to make sure that the Party stays true to its advocacy of Change. All members must be subject to Party discipline. Report those who try to extort money from politicians and prospective members so they can be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.