Kampi to be declared dominant minority party – Lakas

The ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the administration Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) are expected to be declared dominant majority and minority parties, respectively, by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) because of the weak organizational structure of opposition parties, a Lakas-CMD official said yesterday.

Lakas-CMD vice president for Luzon and spokesman Heherson Alvarez said the Genuine Opposition (GO) is not registered with the Comelec as a political coalition, much less as a political party.

He added that according to the law, a "dominant minority party" does not necessarily mean that it has to come from the opposition.

He said none of the opposition senatorial candidates are running under GO. None of the opposition candidates for local posts will run under GO as a single coalition since it is not registered.

Alvarez pointed out that under the "political symbol of GO," Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former senator John Osmeña are running under the United Opposition (UNO), detained rightist military official Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes and former senator Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng are running as independents, Sonia Roco is running under Aksyon Demokratiko while former senator Loren Legarda and Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero are running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

"The opposition has no candidates under GO," Alvarez told The STAR. "It is not registered as a political coalition and therefore it cannot sign certificates of nomination. That is their (opposition) dilemma. So how can the Comelec give such a status of dominant minority party for GO?"

He said under the law, the Comelec will recognize six principal parties where each would be assigned points based on five criteria. The party that obtains the most number of points would be declared the dominant majority party while the rest will be considered minority parties.

The political party that will obtain the second highest number of points would be declared the "dominant minority party."

"We are in a multi-party system so the law does not say dominant opposition party but only dominant minority party," Alvarez said.

The six parties to be accredited will be entitled to deploy their watchers but only the dominant majority and minority parties are entitled to official copies of the certificates of canvass, he said.

The five criteria to be considered by the Comelec in accrediting dominant majority and minority parties are: history of the party; number of the party’s incumbent officials nationwide 90 days before the elections or last Feb. 15; capability to mount a nationwide electoral campaign; number of candidates it can field in the elections nationwide; and other factors and "analogous circumstances" to be considered by the poll body.

"If you really look at the parties being arrayed now, it is only Kampi that can qualify as a dominant minority party," Alvarez said.

He said the Comelec cannot also give such status to UNO, which he described as mainly "Makati-based with no other connections outside the city." UNO is headed by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

Last week, Lakas-CMD filed its petition for accreditation as a dominant majority party before the Comelec. In 2004, Lakas was declared as the dominant majority party by the Comelec.

Alvarez admitted that Kampi, formed by President Arroyo in 1997, is also seeking accreditation to be the dominant majority party but Lakas-CMD thought it would be better if it would be declared a dominant minority party.

He pointed out that Kampi also has a respectable network, machinery and number of elected officials nationwide.

The ruling coalition is composed of Lakas-CMD, Kampi, NPC, Liberal Party, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, and the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.

Lakas-CMD stalwarts earlier accused Kampi of raiding its ranks to boost its membership. Mrs. Arroyo intervened last week and ordered a stop to the raiding.

Alvarez said Kampi merged with Lakas-CMD when Mrs. Arroyo signed an agreement after she ran and won as vice president in 1998.