PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – At least 5,000 local government officials joined President Rodrigo Duterte’s political party – the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) in this province, Wednesday.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez officiated their mass oath-taking at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center here.
Three of Nueva Ecija’s congresswomen joined PDP-Laban, namely First District Rep. Estrellita Suansing, Second District Rep. Micaela Violago and Third District Rep. Rosanna Vergara.
Fourth District Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres is currently abroad.
The party leadership in Nueva Ecija is headed by former Gen. Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote, who concurrently serves as vice president for Luzon and party provincial president.
During the ceremony, Alvarez asked the new PDP-Laban members if anyone of them is an addict.
He said the party mechanism prevents any politician with illegal drug connections from being accepted to the PDP-Laban.
The Speaker said he is furnished the same drug list submitted to President Duterte so the party can check on reports of anyone’s illegal drug connection.
Alvarez said the Nueva Ecija contingent is one of the biggest groups to join the PDP-Laban party after some 50,000 local officials were recently sworn in in Cebu. (PNA)
