IN PHOTOS: PDP-Laban celebrates victory as ruling party

Mara Cepeda

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IN PHOTOS: PDP-Laban celebrates victory as ruling party

Alecs Ongcal

Senate President Aqulino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, says party efforts to lead the country's shift to federalism will be in full swing by 2017

MANILA, Philippines – When President Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 elections with an overwhelming vote, so did his party – the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Just days after Duterte’s victory, one politician after another jumped ship to the now ruling administration party. (READ: ‘Future’ member JV Ejercito attends PDP-Laban dinner

The PDP-Laban secretary-general, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, gathered his party mates on Wednesday, November 16, at the Midas Tent in Pasay City, to celebrate their rise to power. 

In his speech, Alvarez thanked his party mates for all their efforts to realize Duterte’s presidential bid.

Sa lahat po ng ating kasama sa PDP-Laban, ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa ating tagumpay na tayo ay nakapagluklok ng isang Presidente sa Pilipinas na walang iba, ang ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte (To all of our colleagues here in PDP-Laban, I am grateful for our victory that we were able to elect a President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” said Alvarez.

He cited “changes in the nation” since the new administration assumed office, and urged the members to continue supporting the Chief Executive and to help further strengthen the ruling party.

Alvaez said that the party will be reorganized next year and will ratify its new constitution and by-laws.  

Dito po ay gagawin po natin ay magkakaroon ng miyembro ang PDP-Laban hanggang sa barangay level. Kaya po, sa susunod na election, sa 2019, kukumpletuhin po natin ng ticket ng PDP-Laban – magmula sa senador, congressman, gobernador, mayor, at lahat po ng opisyales sa local governments,” said Alvarez. 

(We will make sure that PDP-Laban has members down to the barangay level. So in the 2019 elections, we will have a complete ticket – from senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and all officials in the local government.) 

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, rallied his party mates to continue helping Duterte, who is facing criticism for his “unconventional” leadership and diplomacy style.  

We have to help the President. Maraming paraan. Mag-isip-isip na lang tayo diyan – use our genius [to figure out] how to help the President. Explain po natin ‘yung mga programa niya sa taongbayan because, well, ano kasi, he is a new kind of a President, unconventional, kaya he is under attack or criticisms sa iba’t -bang anggulo. Kaya kailangan pong tulungan natin ang ating Presidente. And he has asked for help,” said Pimentel. 

(We have to help the President. There are many ways to do that – let’s use our genius to figure out how to help the President. Let’s explain his programs to the people because he is a new kind of a President, unconventional, so he is under attack or criticisms from different angles. That’s why we need to help our President. And he has asked for a our help.) 

He said that next year, PDP-Laban’s efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution to shift to federalism would finally be in full swing. (READ: Senate to begin ‘informal’ talks on charter change next week – Pimentel

2017 will really be a very busy year for us kasi by 2017, pasok na po ‘yung federalism. Ngayon, ‘yung kilos natin under the radar pero by next year, on the radar na. So maghanda na po tayo,” said Pimentel.

(2017 will really be a very busy year for us because by 2017, federalism will finally enter the picture. Right now, our efforts are under the radar but by next year, it’s already on the radar. So let us prepare.)

Duterte and his allies are championing federalism to decentralize power and wealth away from “imperial” Manila. (READ: Will federalism address PH woes? Pros and cons of making the shift)

Under federalism, the nation will be divided into autonomous states in charge of their own laws, finances, industries, infrastructure, education, culture, and development.

The national government would only be left to deal with matters with nationwide bearing, including foreign policy and national security. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.