Lakas-CMD elects Romualdez as new president

MANILA -- A week before the official campaign period starts for the May midterm elections, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) installed Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as its new party president Wednesday.

Romualdez, the nephew of former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, will replace Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., who is now the party chairman.

Lakas-CMD is the political party of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The former leader, who is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for plunder charges, is chairman emeritus.

However, the party leaders said Arroyo was not consulted in the leadership change.

"The former President is detained and unfortunately, access is already limited. The new leadership has been given trust and confidence on this so I think we have to move forward," Romualdez said in a press conference.

"Sariling lipad na kami for now," Revilla added.

Lakas-CMD is fielding around 800 to 900 local candidates and 30 congressional bets in the midterm elections in May.

Revilla stressed that Lakas-CMD is "still a party to reckon with." "Hindi kami pwedeng maliitin," he said.

The political party said it will choose 10 senatorial candidates to support in the May polls. The announcement, however, will only be made a month before election day.

"Hindi pa yun masyadong late. One week is a lifetime in politics. We are, right now, in the process of getting a consensus from Lakas members...One month is ample time to campaign for them," Romualdez said.

Romualdez said local candidates will be given the leeway to choose the other two senatorial bets they will support. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)