2 Negros mayors rejoining LAKAS-CMD

Two mayors in Negros Occidental will rejoin the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III said Tuesday that aside from him, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante will also return as a member of the party.

Toboso City Mayor Madonnah Jaojoco will also join the party, which is headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Escalante III said they will take their oaths next week as Lakas CMD members.

Romualdez, first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos, 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 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 the party in Negros Occidental, before joining the PDP Laban of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Escalante said they are still waiting for the go signal of Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, who is arriving on Thursday, on the final schedule of their oath taking.

Marañon and Sagay City Mayor Narwin Javelosa, on the other hand, are affiliated with the National Unity Party, which was also established as an alliance with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, which was founded by PBBM.

Former Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco, who was succeeded by his wife, Madonana, said he is still with PDP since 2016.* (NBCG)