Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was re-elected president of PDP-Laban, while lawyer and musician Jimmy Bondoc was chosen as the party’s executive vice president during its national assembly in Davao City.
Duterte first assumed the party presidency in April, succeeding his father, former President Rody Duterte, who remains detained at the International Criminal Court detention facility in The Hague.
Bondoc said he accepted his new role as one of the party’s leaders and vowed to help strengthen PDP-Laban as the opposition while promoting a democracy that serves ordinary Filipinos.
“Bilang tunay na oposisyon, tinatanggap ko po ang mabigat na tungkuling ipaglaban ang uri ng demokrasya na angkop at tapat sa karaniwang Pilipino. Ang gumuho ngayon, ating itatayo bukas,” he said.
Also elected to the party’s leadership were Wendel Avisado as secretary-general, Aimee Neri as treasurer and Sen. Bong Go as auditor. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio was named national spokesman, replacing Raul Lambino, who was re-elected vice president for international affairs.
Alfonso Cusi was also formally elected PDP-Laban chairman after previously serving as acting chair.
