PDP-Laban on track to meet membership target of 100 before July 25

From a membership of only three lawmakers after the May elections, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is poised to meet its goal of having 100 members in the House of Representatives before the 17th Congress formally starts on July 25.

Incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez expressed confidence on Wednesday that the ruling party will meet its goal of having a 100-strong membership as six lawmakers took their oath to become PDP-Laban stalwarts.

“I think aabot naman sa 100 because by next week may isa pang batch [na mag-o-oathtaking], mga six [lawmakers],” he said.

Alvarez, PDP-Laban’s Secretary General, earlier said he wants the party to have a membership of around 80 to 100 in the House.

Six female lawmakers comprised the latest batch of politicians who jumped ship to PDP-Laban.

Of this number, five are from the Liberal Party: Reps. Bai Sandra Sema from Maguindanao and Cotabato City, Dulce Ann Hofer, Maricar Zamora from Compostela Valley, Lorna Bandigan from Davao Occidental, and Theresa Collantes from Batangas.

Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, meanwhile, was formerly a stalwart of the United Nationalist Alliance.

With six new additions, the party's membership currently stands at 93, its secretariat said.

Three lawmakers

Immediately after the May 9 polls, PDP-Laban, President Rodrigo Duterte’s political party, counted only three lawmakers as members: Alvarez, Eric Martinez from Valenzuela and Jun Papandayan from Lanao del Sur.

Aside from expanding its membership base, PDP-Laban has strengthened itself by entering into alliances with other political parties such as the Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, and Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Next week, Alvarez said PDP-Laban will sign a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party. — VVP, GMA News