New PDP LABAN leadership vows to support federalism of Duterte administration

GENERAL SANTOS CITY- The new leadership of the ruling PDP LABAN party is gearing up for the strengthening of the political party in a bid to support the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte especially on its campaign for federalism.
Lawyer Rogelio Garcia; the new national president of the party, met Saturday with the PDP LABAN national executive council officers in Tagum City wherein the group unanimously agreed to push for the realization of the federal system of government which is being pushed by the Duterte administration.
Garcia said the national council officers will be intensifying the recruitment of local and barangay officials in the different regions of the country to join the party’s Basic Recruitment Seminar wherein the participants will be lectured on federalism, which is one of the party’s principles.
Garcia, the concurrent regional president for Region 12, said the PDP LABAN regional councils in the different regions of the country will take charge in the conduct of the party’s basic membership seminar in a bid to advocate federalism.
“PDP LABAN is committed to support the federalism which is being pushed by President Duterte, the party’s national chairman,” Garcia said.
Garcia, a former Assemblyman and classmate of Dutere at the college of law in San Beda College, assumed the leadership of the PDP LABAN after some 4,000 party officials and members decided to unseat Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel as national president during a national assembly held at Amoranto sadium in Quezon City last July 28.
Earl Stanley Whittmer, PDP LABAN deputy secretary-general for Mindanao, said that some 15,000 local and barangay officials in Region 12 are set to swear in as PDP LABAN members next week after they attended the basic membership seminar and vowed to support the federalism advocacy of the Duterte administration.
He also said that Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas had committed to bring in political leaders composed of local and barangay officials of the province to join the PDP LABAN.
Garcia said he was scheduled to meet next week with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to firm up the collaboration of the party and the House of Representatives in supporting the priority agenda on federalism of President Duterte.