LP split between Arroyo, Roco — GMA campaign spokesman

Even the Liberal Party (LP), one of the oldest institutions in the country’s political history, is also divided on who it will support in the May 2004 presidential elections.

Malacañang noted that the LP leaders are divided on their choice of who to support in next year’s presidential race notwithstanding their appointment of President Arroyo as their "honorary chairperson."

This was apparent in the announcement made by Senate President Franklin Drilon, LP chairman, who declared the party leadership has decided to conduct their own selection process to pick out their choice among the current crop of presidential aspirants.

To highlight the selection process, Mrs. Arroyo was among those invited last night to speak before the LP in a dinner gathering hosted by the senator at his residence in Greenhills, San Juan.

Another presidential aspirant, former education secretary Raul Roco, was also invited to spell out his platform of government.

Sen. Francisco Pangilinan said last night, after the meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and LP members led by Drilon, that several party-members were supporting Mrs. Arroyo. "It is part of a consultation process," Pangilinan said. The LP is expected to meet with Roco next week.

Mrs. Arroyo’s campaign spokesman and LP stalwart, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor, said the move was a substantial departure of the stand made by the Liberals to support the President as their party’s standard-bearer.

"Our standing agreement, in fact, is President Arroyo is our honorary chairperson. But perhaps, there are certain elements of our party, which I don’t hold against them, are looking at other inclinations," Defensor said. "But as of now, the position of the party is that our honorary chairperson is President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo and in fact, we also agreed to support her programs and policies."

Defensor, LP vice president for Metro Manila along with Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, are the party’s only card bearing members in the Arroyo Cabinet.

The LP is among the remaining parties in coalition with the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) in the People Power Coalition (PPC) and the Sunshine Coalition at the House of Representatives under Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

Defensor said the party leaders would just want to be clarified on certain issues. "As of now, the right sentiments... are for the President. Perhaps, some of our party mates would like to get clarifications and we welcome that. But at this stage, at this time, that is still the sentiment of the party," he said.

Defensor admitted that there are "a few" in the LP who still want a reconsideration of the party’s decision to support Mrs. Arroyo.

Defensor also welcomed reports that members of the NPC under businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. were allowed to support candidates of their own choice. The NPC, the second biggest political party, is still in coalition with Lakas congressmen at the House.

"That in itself is a victory to the President. It is a big help that NPC did not join the opposition and individuals were given a free hand to choose because in the end, my belief is that they will come and join us," Defensor said. He reiterated his confidence that other political parties would align their support to Mrs. Arroyo.

Defensor said Lakas and political allies stand to benefit from the division in the ranks of the opposition. He said that "at least four" members of the mainstream opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) are set to join Lakas.

Mrs. Arroyo’s campaign spokesman also shrugged anew the proclamation of actor Fernando Poe Jr. as the united opposition’s standard bearer.

"Objectively, we’re not worried about any candidate coming from the opposition but what we are saying is that it only goes to show the disunity and the divisiveness that we have in the opposition," Defensor said.

As against the united opposition, Defensor said the administration coalition is beefing up its ranks on the so-called defections by disgruntled members of the opposition. He even claimed some members of Roco’s camp, who he did not identify, are working out "an alliance" with Lakas.

And as far as the PPC is concerned, the selection process is limited only to pick out Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate and the senatorial slate.

Both Drilon and Roxas are being eyed as possible vice presidential candidates by PPC, Defensor said.

Defensor also named the other vice presidential candidates as Senators Robert Barbers (Lakas), Noli de Castro (independent), Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban), Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon (Nacionalista Party) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando (Lakas).