Lakas-CMD elects new officers

The political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) elected its new set of national officers on Friday.

The holding of the election was contained in a resolution approved by party members and confirmed by incumbent officers led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Vice President Sara Duterte. Romualdez and Duterte reassumed the positions of president and chairman, respectively.

The installation of the new officers “will strengthen and reinvigorate our party in support of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Agenda for Prosperity and socioeconomic roadmap,” Romualdez said in a statement Sunday.

“We hope to further grow our membership with new recruits who share our ideals, programs and goals, and aspirations for our people and our nation,” he said.

The party’s members included 68 congressmen, hundreds of governors, city and town mayors, provincial board and city and town council members, and other local officials.

Former president and now senior deputy speaker and Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was elected as chairman emeritus, former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as co-chairman emeritus, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. as co-chairman, Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro as vice chairman, and House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Second District Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe as executive vice president.

The other officers are Agusan del Norte First District Rep. Jose Aquino 2nd, secretary-general; North Cotabato Third District Rep. Samantha Santos, deputy secretary-general; and Quezon Second District Rep. David Suarez, treasurer.

The officers were also chosen as members of the national executive committee.

The party formed a national advisory council to support the executive committee.

The council was composed of former representatives Juan Miguel Arroyo, Diosdado Ignacio Arroyo, Lourdes Arroyo, Prospero Pichay Jr., Wilter Wee Palma, Aleta Suarez, Hector Sanchez, Paz Radaza, Leonardo Babasa Jr., Anthony Peter Crisologo, Mari Grace Preciosa Castelo, and Sandra Eriguel.

Also in the advisory council are former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita and former secretaries Gabriel Claudio and Nasser Pangandaman Sr.