LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Hundreds of political leaders in Pangasinan took their oath of affiliation with The Partido Demokratikong Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP – Laban) recently at the Sison Auditorium here as a show of support to the political party’s national chairman, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
PDP – Laban national vice chairman Alfonso G. Cusi, on behalf of President Duterte, inducted former governor and now fifth district Congressman Amado T. Espino, Jr. as provincial president of the PDP-Laban in Pangasinan and he also administered the oathtaking of Governor Amado I. Espino III and Vice-Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. as members of the said political party.
As the provincial president of the PDP-Laban in Pangasinan, Congressman Espino administered the oathtaking of all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan followed by 16 incumbent mayors and the mass oathtaking of some 300 other other political leaders from various parts of Pangasinan.
Cusi, who also serves as Energy Secretary, bared in his speech that President Duterte has been very appreciative of Pangasinan’s overwhelming response to his advocacies to eliminate illegal drugs, corruption and criminality in the country.
“Isusulong natin ang tunay na pagbabago sa pangunguna ni President Duterte,” said Cusi, who also took pride of the Espino’s brand of governance which enabled the province to soar high as a premiere and fourth best-performing province in the country today from being ranked 64th in 2007 before former Pangasinan Governor Espino assumed his first term as provincial chief executive.
Representative Espino, who was earlier sworn-in as PDP-Laban member after the national election, said that the mass affiliation of Pangasinan political leaders to the PDP-Laban was a reassuring statement of support to the Duterte administration.
Expressing gratitude to President Duterte for welcoming Pangasinan political leaders in his political party, Cong. Espino recalled that President Duterte visited him twice: the first one in January 2015 when he was still contemplating whether to run in the presidential race and the second, a month before the May elections when then Mayor Duterte sought the support of Pangasinenses for his presidential bid.
Upon knowing the campaign agenda of then Mayor Duterte which focused on the fight against proliferation of illegal drugs, corruption and criminality, then Pangasinan Governor Espino vowed to support Duterte, citing the similarity of their platforms of good governance.
Cong. Espino likewise assured the PDP – Laban that political leaders in Pangasinan will comply with the political party’s Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) as he noted that a one-day seminar on PDP party affiliation which is required to anyone entering the organization is being worked out this December.
Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino, III, on the other hand, stressed that the zeal of his provincial leadership complements President Duterte’s platforms of good governance as he extended the all-out support of the officials of the province on the programs and projects of the president.
Cusi was accompanied by former Pagcor Chairman Efraim C. Genuino, PDP-Laban deputy Secretary General Melvin Matibag, DOE Usec. Donato Marcos, PNOC President Rueben Lista, among others.
First District Representative Jesus “Boying” Celeste who had earlier sworn-in as member of the PDP – LABAN, also attended the oathtaking ceremony.
By Dexter A. See
