Koronadal City—More than 6,000 people swore en masse before the Philippine flag to pursue political aspirations to federalize the country, as they officially joined the new Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), which celebrated its first founding anniversary here on October 5.
The PFP won 238 elective posts in the May 2019 elections, after the Commission on Elections granted it accreditation on October 5, 2018 as the country’s newest political party.
South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., PFP national president, said the party has launched its free education and free health services programs to give back to the community in direct social services to the people.
Local observers have said a viable local party can reverse the political tide of a traditionally centralized character in the selection of members by any party in power, and the irony of local rivalries for national party support.
Off-political season, the PFP is assessed this early to possibly field few locally known candidates for national elections, such as the senatorial race.
Sworn PFP members vowed that their aspiration and the fight for a federal Philippines will ever continue.
Tamayo, a former municipal mayor of Tupi town, said he currently carries the PFP banner as governor of South Cotabato, together with two vice governors, four city mayors, six congressmen, 34 municipal mayors, and l26 vice mayors, as well provincial board members city and town councilors nationwide.
He said he expected the present number of members to double until the 2022 national elections.
Famed singer-composer Freddie Aguilar, PFP executive vice-president, entertained attendees to the party’s first anniversary celebration at the South Cotabato Cultural Center here.
