LP stalwart Cagayan gov to join Duterte party

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – He was one of the staunchest allies of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II during the May 2016 elections, but Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba will be jumping ship to President Rodrigo Duterte’s party.

In a press release, the Cagayan provincial government information office said Mamba is set to be sworn in as member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

“Inaasahang susunod na rin na magiging kasapi ng PDP-Laban si Governor Manuel Mamba oras na makapagpaalam na ito kay dating Pangulong Benigno Aquino ng Liberal Party,” the statement said.

(It is expected that Governor Manuel Mamba will also join PDP-Laban once he has relayed his decision to former president Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party.)

Mamba was also former LP congressman, chief of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office during Aquino’s presidency, and the assigned LP chairman in the Cagayan Valley region. 

On Wednesday, October 5, Governor Mamba’s brother, Tuao Mayor William Mamba, took his oath before Senate President and PDP-Laban national chairman Aquilino Pimentel III as new member of the party. William was also from the LP.

The mayors of Enrile, Camalaniugan, Peñablanca, Rizal, Piat, Allacapan, and Sto Niño towns, as well as all elected officials of Mamba’s hometown Tuao, were also sworn in on Wednesday.

Mamba’s information officer Rogie Sending confirmed to Rappler that the mayors who were sworn in are now allies of the governor. During the May 2016 elections, only the mayors of Tuao and Sto Niño had been Mamba’s allies.