Duterte allies in Victorias City bolt PDP
BACOLOD CITY—All is not well for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) in Negros Occidental. The vice mayor and nine councilors of Victorias City irrevocably resigned from the political party on April 23, following the announcement of a party official that PDP may field the city’s former mayor, Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca, as its candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2025.
Victorias City Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and the city councilors, in a letter to PDP chair Jose Alvarez, said they learned that the PDP leadership has decided to field Palanca against Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is expected to seek reelection in the 2025 midterm elections. They said the decision was made without any consultation from incumbent officials and party members of PDP in Victorias City.
They said it appeared that the leadership of PDP under lawyer Jesus Villanueva Hinlo overlooked the basic principle that an organization should promote “inclusivity through consultation before decision, and not the other way around.”
Hinlo, PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas and the Negros Occidental Council president, announced on April 22 that they were looking into fielding Palanca for governor next year. But Bantug and the city councilors said they fully supported the statement of Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez that “the governance style and decisions during former mayor Palanca’s administration do not reflect the current and future direction of Victorias City.” Inconsistent
They said the PDP decision no longer aligns with theirs.
“It is inconsistent with the principles upon which we wish to govern and serve as public servants to our constituents,” they said.
Bantug and the city councilors said their irrevocable resignation from PDP was effective immediately.
The letter was signed by Bantug and Councilors Francis Frederick “Derek” Palanca, Deilen Hofileña, Teresita Bartolome, Hermie Millan, Dino Jose Maria Acuña, Danilo de Asis Jr., Audie Malaga, Dexter Senido and Joji Larraga.
Hinlo, in response, said their plan to field Palanca as PDP’s possible gubernatorial candidate had been “discussed with our party’s known active members, allies and the public.”
“If those Victorias City officials are in disagreement, they should have consulted me and I would have gladly clarified the matter with them,” he said. INQ
