JDV seeks nullification of Lakas-CMD-Kampi merger

MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. sought yesterday the nullification of the alleged illegal merger of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

De Venecia filed a 20-page petition at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) claiming that the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi violated the charter of the Lakas-CMD party.

“There was no national assembly convened for the purpose, nor did the party (Lakas) ratify the action of its national directorate to enter into a merger with Kampi as required by its Constitution and bylaws,” De Venecia explained.

He said Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) should be released from the merger with Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino) because the “political marriage” resulted in a constitutional breach of the political party.

De Venecia named President Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio as respondents in the petition.

He also called for the voiding of the designation of Arroyo as chairman of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD as well as the appointment of all other interim officers.

De Venecia, a former speaker, said the petition intends to save what is left of Lakas-CMD that has been one of the most dominant parties in the country.

“We, along with President Fidel Ramos, founded this party (Lakas) and practically made it what it is now. We want to save our political party from its looming extinction,” he said.

De Venecia’s camp said they decided to file the petition at the Comelec, which has the power to protect political parties in the country.

“The Comelec has the power and duty to step in and enforce the law not only to protect the party, but more importantly, the electorate, in line with the commission’s broad and constitutional mandate to ensure orderly elections,” De Venecia quoted a previous Supreme Court ruling.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said the commission would immediately tackle the petition since it is of national significance.

“This will have a preference, of course, because we will already be entering the campaign season soon,” Melo said.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD  leaders hit  De Venecia

Speaker Prospero Nograles said De Venecia has no business questioning the Lakas-Kampi-CMD merger.

“JDV (De Venecia) has no more business commenting about our political party as we have abolished Lakas and merged it to create a new political party with a new personality,” said Nograles, vice chairman of the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

He said De Venecia has “not been a member of good standing,” therefore he “has no right to complain or right to reply or to be invited in any of our political meetings.”

De Venecia and former President Ramos formed Lakas in 1992. De Venecia was forced to quit the presidency of the Lakas party following his falling out with President Arroyo, shortly after he was ousted as speaker in February 2008.

The eldest lawmaker-son of Mrs. Arroyo, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, hopes that De Venecia, who does not have any party now, will be enlightened and “overcome the hatred in his heart.”

“With all due respect, I sincerely pray that the statesman in him will resurface and overcome the hatred in his heart,” Rep. Arroyo said.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, chairman of the House committee on oversight, said the petition of De Venecia before the Comelec will not prosper because it is baseless.

“I think all legal minds are there when we created the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. I suggest to the former speaker to just give constructive criticism on the merger on how it could be strengthened, instead of dividing it,” he said.

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Prospero Pichay, who is also Lakas-Kampi-CMD spokesman, said De Venecia had lost all his moral and legal claims to Lakas-CMD with his resignation from the party on the eve of the merger.

Pichay said De Venecia practically abandoned the defunct Lakas-CMD party in June when it merged with Kampi.

Malacañang accused De Venecia of trying to sabotage the consolidation of the newly merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Palace political affairs adviser Claudio, the main architect of the merger, said De Venecia’s petition is “in estopel legally and politically” as he did not pose any objection to the union during the hearing at the Comelec for the registration of the merged party. – With Perseus Echeminada, Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero