THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte forged Monday an alliance with the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD) of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Davao del Norte representative-elect Pantaleon Alvarez, PDP-Laban secretary-general, said the coalition between Duterte’s party and Lakas-CMD aims to push cooperation and support on the reforms to be initiated by the incoming administration.

Outgoing Leyte representative Martin Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, led his group in forging a coalition with PDP-Laban officials headed by Alvarez and the party's vice chair Al Cusi.

PDP-Laban and Lakas-CMD formally forged their alliance in the upcoming 17th Congress. @sunstaronline pic.twitter.com/C95tMOk5mH

— JC Cahinhinan (@john_carlo20) May 18, 2016

"We, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and Lakas-CMD, represented by our respective officers duly authorized for the purpose aver that… we hereby agree to support our elected members, on the basis of their demonstrated competence and fitness for public service following an agreed process," the Covenant of Unity that they signed at Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City said.

Romualdez underscored the importance of the formation of a super majority in the Senate and House of Representatives to achieve the desired reforms of Duterte.

"The coalition for change agreement signifies our willingness to cooperate with one another in bringing out the change and reforms that incoming President Duterte wants," said Romualdez.

(Video by John Carlo Cahinhinan/Sunnex)

Romualdez, who is on his third and last term as lawmaker and trailing in the ongoing senatorial race, will be replaced by his wife, Yedda Marie as Leyte Representative.

"The agreement is about working for change. We will work together under the Duterte presidency to push people’s interests," said Romualdez.

Alvarez also welcomed the support extended to him by other lawmakers from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NUP), National Unity Party (NUP), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), and the 40-strong Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCF).

"In behalf of the Duterte Administration, we would like to sincerely thank you for your support and we have a lot of things to do to execute the changes that the Duterte Administration have promised to the Filipino people. We hope that the days to come, we shall be united in pursuing the legislation needed to effect the necessary changes," said Alvarez.

Earlier, the Nacionalista Party (NP) of former Senate President Manny Villar forged an alliance with PDP-Laban in Davao City. (Sunnex)

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