PDP Laban defends Romualdez vote
‘We uphold our five founding principles and party platform with unwavering dedication.’
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) has come to the defense of its members who backed House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s reelection, saying their support was part of a larger parliamentary strategy and not a betrayal of the party’s principles.
In a statement on Monday, PDP Laban Region XII chairman and party elder Rogelio Garcia explained that the votes cast by party members GenSan Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles and South Cotabato 3rd District Rep. Dibu Tuan were made with a broader alliance-building in mind.
“The affirmative vote by our members must be viewed in the broader context of a parliamentary strategy and alliance-building — an approach taken without compromising the party’s principles,” Garcia said.
He stressed that PDP Laban remained grounded in its mission to serve the Filipino people, amid the shifting political winds.
The statement was in response to criticism, especially online, that accused Bañas-Nograles of riding on the Duterte brand while backing Romualdez, who is viewed as being politically at odds with Vice President Sara Duterte.
It is a sentiment that harks back to the May midterm elections, where Bañas-Nograles defeated former Rep. Loreto Acharon — a Romualdez ally and supporter of VP Duterte’s impeachment — by more than 70,000 votes.
A similar narrative played out in South Cotabato, the bailiwick of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ally, Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. Despite this, Tuan clinched a victory over four rivals, thanks in part to what analysts said was the enduring pull of the Duterte name in the province.
“We uphold our five founding principles and party platform with unwavering dedication,” the PDP Laban statement said. “While the core values and direction of PDP Laban remain firm and consistent, we recognize the need to address current political developments with prudence.”
With the statement, PDP Laban appeared to be treading carefully —balancing loyalty to its roots with the realities of political survival ahead of the 2025 legislative session.