• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two Negros Occidental mayors are returning to Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), the political party of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, while a neophyte town mayor is also joining them.
Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III said yesterday that he, along with Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Toboso Mayor Madonnah Jaojoco, are expected to take their oath as members next week.
Romualdez, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is the Lakas-CMD president, a dominant political party in the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.
Former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo is the Lakas-CMD chairperson-emeritus.
Escalante said that his entire slate in Manapla, including the vice mayor and councilors, will also join Lakas-CMD.
The two Escalantes are among the original members of Lakas-CMD in Negros Occidental before joining the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)-Laban of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Escalante said that they are still waiting for Second District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, who is arriving on Thursday, to inform them on the final schedule of the oath-taking.
Marañon and Sagay City Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. are affiliated with the National Unity Party, which also established an alliance with the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
Former Toboso mayor Richard Jaojoco, who was succeeded by his wife Madonnah, said he is still with the PDP, where he is a member since 2016. | GB
