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BY TIFFANY ANNE TAN and MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has joined the party of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) permitted him to move to the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“I consulted my officers at the NPC, and I had their clearance and blessing,” Leonardia told reporters on Monday.
The mayor said he already submitted his membership application to PDP-Laban secretary-general Yves Akol.
Leonardia said Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors Bartolome Orola, Em Ang, Ricardo Tan, Dindo Ramos, Cindy Rojas, Caesar Distrito, Renecito Novero, and Elmer Sy — all allied with Grupo Progreso — will join PDP-Laban, too.
New PDP-Laban members in Negros Occidental will take oath on Sept. 30. Distrito and Rojas, who are out of the country, cannot attend, Leonardia said.
As of this writing, Rep. Greg Gasataya, another Leonardia ally, has not yet confirmed if he will move to the ruling party.
Earlier Familiaran — a member of the Liberal Party — said he personally prefers staying with the erstwhile ruling party but said his final decision would depend on the decision of Leonardia, his May elections running mate.
MOVED AGAIN
Akol said the oath-taking has been rescheduled to an earlier date because several Cabinet secretaries want to attend.
Originally set on Sept. 17, the event was moved to Oct. 1, and then to Sept. 30.
In Negros Occidental, new PDP-Laban members come from rival groups United Negros Alliance (UNegA) and Love Negros, Akol said.
Around 91 UNegA members and 60 Love Negros are joining the ruling party.
Officials who confirmed their attendance are Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, Agriculture secretary Manny Piñol, and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Martin Diño, said Akol.
President Rodrigo Duterte cannot attend the event but will be present at the opening of the MassKara Festival the following day.
Submission of membership application is ongoing as of this writing. Any interested politician may join as long as they can file before Sept. 30, Akol said.
On Friday, there will be an orientation for new members in the morning and a forum on federalism before the oath-taking, all of which will happen between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., he said./PN
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