CDO rolls out red carpet as PDP Laban comes home

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) returned on Saturday to Cagayan de Oro, where it was founded as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in the 1970s, amid an enthusiastic reception from the city's residents.

An estimated 8,000 people from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Camiguin took their oaths as members of PDP Laban at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines before Senate President and Party President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Saturday, January 27, 2018.

"My father, former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr., founded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino under the shade of a banana tree, with only a blackboard to help him and the pioneer members discuss possible solutions to the age-old problems of our society", said Pimentel.

PDP Laban is now the ruling party of the Philippines, with three of the top four national officials coming from the Party.

The Party was founded as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino by former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr.

Its espousal of Federalism, empowerment of the people, and respect for the rule of law put it on a collision course with the Martial Law regime of the time.

In 1982, PDP, as the largest opposition party in Mindanao, merged with Laban, the largest opposition party in Luzon, to form PDP Laban.

In 2016, it was swept into power led by its Chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, on the promise of Change.

Pimentel said, "PDP-Laban never surrendered its principles, even in the darkest days of Martial Law, or our years out of power. In this event, we want to show the people of CDO that our perseverance has brought us power on the national level - the power to bring Change to society and uplift the quality of life of every Filipino."

At the end of the ceremony, Pimentel met with a delegation consisting of faculty, staff, and students, and led by the widow of slain USTP President Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, who asked for the Senate President's assistance in securing justice.

Pimentel promised that he would do all he can to ensure that justice will be served in the case.