Pimentel says PDP-Laban to stop accepting new members by end of November

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Sunday said PDP-Laban will no longer accept new members by the end of November as it will already start vetting for its line-up for the May 2019 elections.

Pimentel, president of PDP Laban, said they now have a sufficient presence around the country due to the "massive influx of new members."

Several politicians went to PDP-Laban after its successful presidential campaign in the May 2016 elections.

President Rodrigo Duterte, the party's chairman, won by a huge margin in the last presidential election.

"By stopping recruitment, we will have time to indoctrinate and train our members, screen possible candidates, and absorb our new members into our grassroots infrastructure,” Pimentel said.

The senator also said that the party would not like to have "latecomers" as new members who will not be able to contribute to the party's development.

"We should now focus on teaching all the members the party ideology and program of government and deepening their understanding of these. After this, we can present a solid and united front come 2019,” Pimentel added.

The senator, meanwhile, clarified that the party's "recruitment drive" will continue even after the closing of applications for new membership.

He said among the latest members of the party are Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa, and Occidental Vice Governor Peter Alfaro.

He added that several local government officials from the provinces of Pangasinan, Leyte, Cavite, Laguna, Iloilo Province and City, Negros Occidental, Compostela Valley, Catanduanes, and Masbate have also joined the party. —ALG, GMA News