YVES Akol, secretary-general of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas Ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Negros, said Sunday, September 2, that local officials in the province remained as allies of the ruling party.
Akol said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has already said since the mass oath-taking of local officials in 2016 that they will stick with their respective local political groups in alliance with PDP-Laban.
After the mass oath-taking, the local officials have been uncertain about their status with the PDP-Laban despite they signed the membership forms and swear in with the party.
During the Leader's Assembly of the PDP-Laban on August 31, Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez was the only local official who attended.
Another Negrense, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Jesus Clint Aranas, who is also the PDP-Laban national treasurer and provincial president, was present.
Akol said he was not able to attend the leadership meeting because he represented Presidential Assistant Michael Dino at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference at L' Fisher Hotel.
President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban, assured the officials, during the PDP-Laban Leader's Assembly, clean and honest elections in 2019.
PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel also presented the names of the senatorial bets of the ruling party for 2019.
They are Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Davao City First District Representative Karlo Nograles, Maguindanao Second District Representative Zajid Mangudadatu, Makati City First District Representative Monsour del Rosario, and Quirino Representative Dakila Carlo Cua.
Their names were on the senatorial slate survey form that was distributed to party leaders during the said meeting.
Other names were Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, retired police general Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, former senator Lito Lapid, former senator Pia Cayetano, actor Robin Padilla, former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan and Ramon Tulfo, as well as re-electionist Senators Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, and Nancy Binay.
