THE PDP-Laban bandwagon is gaining more steam. Just this month, members of the Zambales provincial council, as well as those of a dominant local political party, joined the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as the ruling national party continued sweeping in adherents nationwide.

On August 1, hundreds of members of the Sulong Zambales Party (SZP) from all over the province turned up for the PDP-Laban basic membership seminar and oath-taking ceremony held at the convention hall of the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University in the capital town of Iba.

Pines Arcega, PDP-Laban vice president for education, also conducted a seminar on federalism during the event to inculcate among would-be members some of the party principles and advocacies.

 

‘RED TEAM’

The new members, most of whom were wearing the signature red color of SZP, were inducted into the party by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who is PDP-Laban secretary-general.

The inductees were led by former Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who is chairman of SZP, and included local party stalwarts like former 2nd District Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane, provincial board member Romelino Gojo, Castillejos mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez, San Marcelino mayor Elvis Soria, Botolan mayor Doris Maniquiz, Iba mayor Jun Rundstedt Ebdane, Candelaria mayor Napoleon Edquid, and former Masinloc mayor Jessu Edora.

The SZP, which was founded in 2013 as the political platform for Ebdane and his allies, is not affiliated with any other national political party.

Alvarez was accompanied in the occasion by Energy Secretary Alfonzo Cusi, who is PDP-Laban vice chairman. Michael Macapagal, chairman of the PDP-Laban chapter in Olongapo City, also attended the event.

SP OFFICIALS

On the other hand, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members headed by Vice Gov. Angel Magsaysay trooped to the office of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on August 17 for another induction ceremony.

Pimentel, who is PDP-Laban national chairman, is regarded as a Zambaleño because his mother,  Lourdes “Bing” Dela Llana, hails from Candelaria town.

Aside from Vice Gov. Magsaysay, those who were inducted by Sen. Pimentel were Board members Renato Collado, Samuel Ablola, Sancho Abasta Jr., Noel Ferrer, and Gigi Ejanda-Juarez; as well as San Narciso mayor La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, and Masinloc mayor Arsenia Jalata-Lim.

Board member Collado, who ran and won under SZP in the 2013 and 2016 elections, said most local officials are joining the party in power in preparation for the midterm elections in 2019.

PDP-Laban recently won over some 300 local officials in Cavite, as well as 80 officials in Pampanga who are allied with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. – HENRY EMPEÑO

TOP PHOTO: Former Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. welcomes House Speaker and PDP-Laban Secretary-General Pantaleon Alvarez to a PDP-Laban basic membership seminar and oath-taking ceremony in Iba, Zambales.