Lakas-CMD members meet, vow to rebuild party ahead of 2022 polls

Lakas-CMD, the ruling party during the Arroyo administration, is beefing up its ranks ahead of the 2022 elections by recruiting back its former members.

"Our team is in the process of rebuilding Lakas-CMD and we will just have to win them back again," said House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, referring to former their party-mates.

Romualdez issued the statement following Monday's gathering of Lakas-CMD members at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City that was attended by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Speaker Jose de Venecia, both party stalwarts.

Arroyo serves as Lakas-CMD President Emeritus while Romualdez is the Lakas-CMD President.

Also present during the gathering were:

• Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Butch Pichay,
• Representative Aleta Suarez of Quezon,
• Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City,
• Yasser Balindong of Lanao del Sur,
• Christian Unabia of Misamis Oriental,
• Hector Sanchez of Catanduanes,
• Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte and
• Christopher de Venecia of Pangasinan

De Venecia, for his part, urged Lakas-CMD congressmen to take the lead in strengthening the party and make sure that it plays a leadership role in the 2022 elections.

"We are proud and happy to say that Lakas-NUCD-UMDP, now Lakas-CMD, is already 28 years old and had led our country for 15 years: six years under President [Fidel] Ramos and nine years under President Arroyo. We can be proud of our achievements," De Venecia, Lakas-CMD co-chairman and five-term Speaker, said.

Ramos was president from 1992 to 1998 while Arroyo was from 2001 to 2010.

De Venecia said having solid and principled political parties is important since many of the political problems plaguing the country "rise from our lack of political groupings able to think coherently of the national interest." —KBK, GMA News