• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two mayors in the 2nd district of Negros Occidental, who remain members of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino, are contemplating a return to their previous political party, Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
This follows Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran taking his oath as a member of Lakas CMD before Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on May 28, which was also witnessed by Abang Lingkod party list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Manapla Mayor Manuel ‘Manolet’ Escalante are former members of Lakas CMD, before joining the PDP in 2017, upon the invitation of former President Rodrigo Duterte and ex-House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, extended to the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and local officials in the province.
Cadiz Mayor Escalante yesterday said that he will first ask permission from Second District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, to resign from PDP, as a sign of respect.
Most probably, after resigning from PDP, he will return to Lakas CMD, a political party he has been affiliated with ever since, he added.
About 60 PDP members, led by its former provincial chairman, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, have recently resigned from the political party.
Mayor Escalante disclosed that it was Rep. Marañon, a member of the National Unity Party (NUP) who encouraged him to join Lakas CMD, headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Sagay City Mayor Narwin Javelosa affiliates with NUP, which is also the political party of Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrrer, aside from Rep. Marañon.
Mayor Escalante also said that there is no problem if he and Mayor Manolet Escalante will rejoin Lakas CMD, while Mayor Javelosa belongs NUP, since both parties are coalesced with each other.
He added that Mayor Manolet already signified his intention to rejoin Lakas CMD.
Usually when we decide, we decide as a district, he stressed, apparently referring to the 2nd district, composed of three local government units, namely Manapla, and the cities of Cadiz and Sagay.
Mayor Escalante said he will also invite members of the Cadiz City Council to join him in Lakas CMD.*
