Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines

Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines
Partido Demokratiko Sentrista ng Pilipinas
President Rufus Rodriguez
Chairman Lito Monico Lorenzana
Founded 2010
Headquarters 2/F Mille Building, 335-337 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) corner Dominga Street, Pasay City
Think tank Centrist Democracy Political Institute
Youth wing Centrist Democratic Youth Association of the Philippines
Ideology Christian democracy
Conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Political position Centre-right
National affiliation Coalition for Change
International affiliation None
Colors Blue
Slogan Ang Partido ng Tunay na Demokrasya (The Party of True Democracy)
Seats in the Senate
0 / 24
Seats in the House of Representatives
1 / 292
Website
CDP.ph

The Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP) is a Christian democratic party in the Philippines. Created in 2010, it is headed by Cagayan de Oro representative Rufus Rodriguez. The party aims to "institutionalize an alternative to patronage-oriented political parties".

History

The party recognizes Senators Manuel Manahan and Raul Manglapus as the earliest proponents of Christian democracy in the Philippines. The party also recognizes Ninoy Aquino and Aquilino Pimentel, Jr as primary proponents of the ideology in the country. Lito Monico Lorenzana, one of the members of the cabinet of President Corazon Aquino, founded the Centrist Democratic Movement (CDM), that will eventually evolve into the CDP.[1]

On September 12, 2012, the party was accredited by the Commission on Elections. A month later, the party, while not putting up candidates for the 2013 Senate election, announced that they are supporting the candidacies of Francis Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel III and Bam Aquino, all from Team PNoy. Newly installed party leader Rufus Rodriguez remarked that the CDP has a "real ideology" unlike other parties, while Lorenzana claimed not to be beholden to anyone, and abhorred patronage politics. Aside from supporting three senatorial candidates, the party has 74 candidates for lower positions.[2]

In its campaign for the 2013 elections, the party started a road show for constitutional reform or charter change (Cha-cha). Rodriguez, who is a proponent of charter change, had earlier written a House of Representatives resolution calling for a shift to federalism, return to a two-party system, regional or state election of senators, amendment of the presidential term of office to four years with one reelection and a four-year term with no term limits for local officials, and lifting of nationalist economic provisions in the constitution.[3]

In the 2016 local elections in the town of Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Melchor Llego Mergal ran for mayor under the CDP (as a guest candidate of the Liberal Party/Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid and the Coalition for Change/Kilusang Pagbabago) with Maricris "Utay" Duran Fabillar and won. Mergal and Duran eventually became the party's highest-ranking officials.

References

  1. ↑ Agbayani, Susan Claire (2012-03-25). "New kid on the block to shake up 2013 polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  2. ↑ Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira (2012-10-09). "New 'ideology-based' political party launched, to support Chiz, Koko, Bam in 2013 polls". Interaksyon.com. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  3. ↑ Esguerra, Christian V. (2012-12-27). "New party to launch Cha-cha drive nationwide". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
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