Some PDP-Laban solons ‘seriously’ mulling move to Sara Duterte’s regional party — Andaya

Several lawmakers belonging to the ruling party PDP-Laban are considering transferring to the regional party established by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya said on Thursday.

In a phone interview with reporters, Andaya, a PDP-Laban stalwart, confirmed that there are already "quite a handful" of lawmakers from their party who are "seriously considering" pledging allegiance to Duterte-Carpio's regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

"Quite a handful na nag-iintensyon na talagang lumipat. But yung pormal na paalam, I haven't heard of anyone doing that, but 'yung seriously considering it since yesterday may quite a handful na," he said.

Andaya explained that what may make the lawmakers from his party, its initial members, jump ship is the "mass disenchantment" they feel after PDP-Laban expanded across the country.

"Ang mga naging provincial leaders or regional leaders [ng PDP-Laban] were those who were later comers, shall we say. Congressmen felt they were boxed out or kept in the dark kaya nagkaroon, doon pa lang, nagkalamat na ang relasyon," he said.

Andaya said that as mass oath-takings were happening in provinces, PDP-Laban congressmen felt left out.

"[They were] left out or made to play second fiddle na lang doon sa mga pinili nilang mga provincial chairmen. Doon nagsimula yung pag-aasim ng relasyon," he added.

But since HNP is a regional party, a coalition may be made with a national party to accommodate lawmakers who are not covered by Duterte-Carpio's group, Andaya said.

"Probably a party like Lakas would take this opportunity to rebuild, would come up with a coalition," he said.

Lakas-KAMPI-CMD was the party that newly-elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo chaired before she joined PDP-Laban in October last year.

Andaya said a Lakas-HNP coalition could be possibly led by Arroyo, Duterte-Carpio and President Rodrigo Duterte himself as PDP-Laban chairperson, Andaya said.

"That could be a scenario, but 'yun nga the fact na regional pa lang at wala pa akong narinig na balita na ang Hugpong is a recognized national party so as it is for them, politicians who want to join who are not from the region," he said.

"That's an option, magkaroon ng coalition with Hugpong with another registered national party," he added.

Andaya, however, does not believe that Arroyo would cut ties with PDP-Laban to rebuild and lead Lakas.

"I dont think she will do that at the moment. Hindi niya gagawin 'yun. PDP also supported her, 'yung pag-transition niya to power," he said.

"But as it is, I don't think she's a ranking member ng PDP. Maybe PDP should take note of that na she's not a ranking member of the party," he added.

Arroyo replaced Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, PDP-Laban's secretary general, as Speaker on Monday, in what has been described as a "coup." — BM, GMA News