Pacquiao’s bro, San Juan’s Zamora, LP bets join mass transfer to Duterte's PDP-Laban

The brother of a boxing champion turned senator and a former executive secretary are among those who have left their parties to join Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the party of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte.

PDP-Laban spokesperson Atty. Paola Alvarez confirmed to GMA News Online that the brother of Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao, Rogelio Pacquiao, who replaced Manny as the representative of the lone district of Sarangani, and re-elected San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora have joined the incoming ruling party.

Rogelio ran for Sarangani representative under the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) founded by Manny in 2010. It is affiliated with PDP-Laban and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Manny ran for senator under UNA, which is led by outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Zamora left the Nacionalista Party (NP), which has also formed a “coalition for change agreement” with PDP-Laban a week after the elections.  

Joining them are a bloc of public officials from Mindanao formerly allied with Liberal Party.

• Lanao del Norte Representative-elect Khalid Dimaporo (First District )
• Tawi-Tawi Representative-elect Ruby Sahali
• Misamis Oriental Representative-elect Peter Unabia (First District)
• Sultan Kudarat Representative-elect Horacio “Toto” Suansing (Second Legislative District)
• Misamis Occidental Representative-elect Jorge Almonte (First Legislative District)
• Davao Oriental Representative-elect Mayo Almario (Second Legislative District)
• Zamboanga Sibugay Representative-elect Wilter Palma II (First Legislative District)
• Davao City Representative-elect Mylene Garcia-Albano (Second Legislative District)

Also joining them independent candidate Negros Occidental Representative-elect Albee Benitez (Third Legislative District) and Pangasinan Governor-elect Amado Espino III from Aksyon Demokratiko.

Alvarez said that the new members took their oath before House Speaker nominee and PDP-Laban Secretary General Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas. —JST, GMA News