2 more solons sworn into Lakas-CMD party

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party has gained two more members at the House of Representatives after Camiguin Representative Xavier Jesus "XJ" Romualdo and Dinagat Islands Representative Alan Ecleo jumped into the party.

Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, and party vice president for Luzon, Deputy Majority Leader Juan Miguel Arroyo, led the oath-taking of Romualdo and Ecleo on Tuesday afternoon.

This brings the number of Lakas-CMD party members in the House to 36, of which 19 are district congressmen and 17 are party-list allies.

“Lakas-CMD is gaining momentum in its goal to strengthen its ranks in the House of Representatives. We will continue this feat in the coming months by strengthening our support for our 19 regular members and 17 party-list allies," Romualdez said.

“Welcome to the ever growing Lakas-CMD party. The party will remain a staunch ally of the government and will continue to support the swift passage of President Duterte’s legislative agenda,” he added.

Before transferring to the Lakas-CMD party, both Romualdo and Ecleo were members of the ruling PDP-Laban party.

The PDP-Laban, which is the party of President Rodrigo Duterte, has suffered cuts in the number of its membership earlier this year.

Back in February, four of its members jumped ship to the administration-allied National Unity Party, namely Deputy Speakers Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II and Dan Fernandez, as well as La Union Representative Sandra Eriguel and Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rolando "Clarex" Uy.

A few days later, another former PDP-Laban lawmaker, Biliran Representative Gerardo "Gerryboy" Espina Jr., also took his oath as Lakas-CMD member.

Lakas-CMD has produced two chief executives of the country, namely President Fidel Ramos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who also previously served as Speaker of the House.

The party is currently chaired by Senator Bong Revilla Jr. —LDF, GMA News