By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Three ranking members of the PDP-Laban faction of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and one from former Senate President Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) have defected to the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

On Tuesday, November 21, Romualdez administered the oath to Representatives Rosemarie Conejos Panotes (Camarines Norte, 2nd District), Dale B. Corvera (Agusan del Norte, 2nd District), Lordan G. Suan (Cagayan de Oro, 1st District), and Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy (Caloocan, 2nd District) as new Lakas-CMD members at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

Panotes, Corvera, Cajayon-Uy, and Mayor Robes were former members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) while Suan was from the Nacionalista Party (NP).

Witnessing the event were Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ Dalipe and Lakas-CMD Secretary General Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino 2nd (Agusan del Norte, 1st District).

Seemingly unaffected by the “snubbing” of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Speaker warmly welcomed the new members of Lakas-CMD.

“Our heartfelt welcome to our new members. We are delighted and excited to have you on board. With your exceptional skills, experience, and dedication, we look forward to the unique contributions and perspectives you will bring to Lakas-CMD to help the Marcos administration champion people’s interests,” the Leyte representative said.

He added: “Your commitment to serving the Filipino people will play a major role in the continued success of Lakas-CMD and positively impact our constituents nationwide. We will support and take care of you, and please do not hesitate to reach out to the party leadership.”

On Monday evening, VP Duterte was caught in a video walking past Romualdez at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to shake the hands of an official who was part of the Philippine delegation, along with the Speaker.

The Vice President welcomed the Philippine delegation that joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his three-leg trip to the United States last week.

“Oh, Hindi ko nakita… Hindi ko nakita yung nasa social media. Di ako maka comment… Wala ako nakita,” VP Duterte quipped in Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday when asked about the supposed snubbing incident.

(ai/mnm)