Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez administers the oath to Valenzuela 2nd District Rep. Gerald Galang, Davao De Oro 2nd District Rep. Jhong Ceniza and Davao De Oro Gov. Raul Mabanglo as new members of the Lakas-CMD party. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City on Monday, June 16, 2025.
TWO more congressmen have joined Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the largest political party in Congress and in the country, bolstering its membership in the House of Representatives to 110.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, administered the oath today to Reps. Jhong Ceniza of Davao de Oro’s 2nd district, and Gerald Galang of the 2nd district of Valenzuela.
Gov. Raul Mabanglo of Davao de Oro joined the lawmakers in taking the oath of membership before Speaker Romualdez.
The affiliation of Mabanglo brought to 16 the number of incumbent provincial governors who have joined the country’s dominant political party.
Before they were sworn in as new Lakas-CMD members, Rep. Ceniza and Gov. Mabanglo, along with Davao Del Norte 1st District Rep. Oyo Uy, Cagayan De Oro 3rd District Rep. Jojo Lara, and Laak, Davao de Oro Mayor Mark Anthony Libuangan took their oath of office, also administered by the Speaker.
Speaker Romualdez expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his new party members.
“Your decision to join us means that you share our collective aspiration and the goal of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to improve the lives of our constituents, our people in general,” he said.
“As we grow in numbers, we strengthen support in Congress in our communities for the President’s legislative agenda and Bagong Pilipinas vision and roadmap,” he said.
He expressed hopes the new members would have a productive engagement with Lakas-CMD.
The affiliations of two more congressmen with the party also widens support for the continued stewardship of Speaker Romualdez of the House of Representatives in the incoming 20th Congress.
The oath-taking of the two lawmakers followed the recent decision of five of their colleagues – Leandro Leviste (Independent) of the 1st District of Batangas, Mauricio Domogan (Independent) of the Lone District of Baguio City, John Tracy Cagas (NP) of the Lone District of Davao del Sur, Edwin Crusado (PMP) of Cotabato’s 1st District, and Reynaldo Salvacion (Independent) of the Lone District of Marinduque – to join Lakas-CMD.
According to Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jayjay” Suarez, Speaker Romualdez now enjoys the support of a “supermajority” of at least 285 House members.
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