Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-
Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN)
Chairman Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
President Jejomar Binay
Titular head Jejomar Binay
Secretary General Sergio Osmeña III
Founded 1982
Political Ideology Neoliberalism
Political Position Centre-Left
International Affiliation None
Color(s) Green, Gold
Website [1] [2]
See also Politics of the Philippines

Political parties
Elections

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power) or PDP-Laban is a political party in the Philippines. According to the website of the House, the party holds 4 out of 235 seats (state of the parties, June 2005). It is headed by current senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. (2004-2010).

[edit] Party history

The party was founded in 1982 by Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP). By 1984, PDP had formed a coalition with the Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) party, founded by the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. in 1978, and by 1986, the two were fully merged to form Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-LABAN. At the time, PDP-LABAN became the single biggest opposition group to run against the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential elections. Corazon Aquino, wife of LABAN founder Benigno Aquino, Jr. was the party's nominee for President that year. Aquino was convinced to run by business tycoon Don Joaquin "Chino" Roces, who was convinced the Aquino would have the biggest chance to defeat Marcos in the polls. Roces started the Cory Aquino for President movement to gather one million signatures in one week to urge Aquino to run as president. However, another opposition group led by Senator Salvador Laurel of Batangas was also participating in the election, with Laurel as the presidential bet. Before the election, Aquino approached Laurel and offered to give up her allegiance to the PDP-LABAN party, and run as president under Laurel's United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO) party, with Laurel becoming the nominee for Vice President. Laurel also approached Aquino, offering her the Vice Presidential nomination of UNIDO. In the end, Laurel became the Vice Presidential running-mate of Aquino, after being convinces to do so by the Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin. PDP-LABAN aligned itself with UNIDO, which became the main umbrella coalition of all groups which opposed President Marcos. After the People Power Revolution of 1986, which saw Aquino and Laurel being proclaimed President and Vice President, respectively, PDP-LABAN continued it's allegiance with UNIDO, until the latter's dissolution in 1987. In 1988, PDP-LABAN was split into two factions: the Pimintel Wing of Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. and the Cojuangco Wing of Jose "Peping" Cojunagco, Jr.. The Cojuangco Wing and the Lakas ng Bansa party of House Speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr. merged in 1988 to form the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino party.

[edit] Party Members