FORMER senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has been named chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines.
During the national executive council meeting of the party at the Club Filipino on Friday, which was also live streamed on the party’s Facebook page, Pangilinan succeeded former vice president Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who was his running mate in the May 2022 national elections .
Robredo was LP chairman while serving as the country’s vice president from 2016 to 2022, being the highest elected national official of the party.
Pangilinan was the party’s president from 2019 to 2022 and he will be succeeded by former Manila Times columnist and Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.
Former Quezon City 3rd district Rep. Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, who was attending the event virtually, will serve as vice chairman of the party and former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat is named as its secretary-general.
Former Quezon province 4th district Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada 3rd will serve as the party’s executive vice president and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso “Boy” Umali is the party’s new treasurer.
The new members of the party took their oaths upon being elected to their new positions.
The meeting was also attended by former senators Franklin Drilon and Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd.
The Liberal Party was the ruling party from 2010 to 2016, under the presidency of the late president Benigno Aquino 3rd.