Lakas open to House coalition with LP

MANILA, Philippines - Congressmen belonging to the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD are open to a coalition with the Liberal Party (LP), whose standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is leading the presidential race.

“Our options are open, including a possible alliance with the LP and other political groups,” Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said yesterday.

He made the statement amid reports that LP leaders have been raiding the ranks of Lakas-Kampi and other groups for a multiparty House majority that would support Aquino’s legislative agenda.

Barzaga said he would not be surprised if many administration party members have already committed to defect to the LP side once President Arroyo’s term expires on June 30 and Aquino assumes office.

“They have to think of their constituents, of projects they could bring to their districts. It is Malacañang that releases pork barrel funds,” he said.

On Tuesday night, Mrs. Arroyo met with her Lakas-Kampi allies for the second time in as many weeks apparently to consolidate her forces and gauge her chances in case she decides to run for speaker.

Many of her allies pleaded with her again to declare her intentions but she refused.

After her first meeting with her supporters last Thursday, Barzaga said he got the impression from Mrs. Arroyo’s statements that she was not interested in the speakership. He failed to attend Tuesday’s meeting due to another engagement.

Several Lakas-Kampi members who went to Tuesday’s dinner in Malacañang said they were fewer than those who attended the meeting last Thursday, then said to be about 100 Arroyo allies.

“We were 50 to 60. The President was silent most of the time. It was Butch (Prospero) Pichay (Mrs. Arroyo’s political adviser) who did most of the talking,” one source said.

Another source said the attendees numbered about 80.

The thinning attendance meant that the LP was successful in raiding the ranks of the administration party, said a third Lakas congressman.

Even so, administration allies are apparently bent on fielding Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman as their candidate for speaker.

The LP will most likely choose Quezon City mayor and Representative-elect Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as its speakership bet.

In a telephone interview, Pichay said many of Mrs. Arroyo’s House allies are pressing her to reconsider her stand and aim for the speakership.

“She (Mrs. Arroyo) is our leader and would be the most influential and experienced lawmaker, being a former president and vice president,” Pichay told The STAR. 

“She did not say a word when the matter (her running for the speakership) was brought to her,” he said.

He said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD lawmakers will remain “intact and solid” despite reports of planned and actual defections to other parties, particularly to LP.

Pichay was confident that a Lakas candidate would get the speakership.

“Considering the fact that majority of our candidates were elected – there are 109 of them – plus some allies in the party-list, we believe we have the numbers,” he said.

Over 80 congressmen, including those from the LP, the Nacionalista Party, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition, attended the dinner meeting that lasted until 10 p.m.

Pichay said other names were being floated as possible candidates of the party aside from Lagman. They were Barzaga, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia.

He also said the ruling party is willing to work with the LP or with other parties for the sake of the country.

“We are not combative. We are in the House of Representatives to help this new administration. We don’t want to block the legislative agenda of the next administration,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kampi is reportedly consolidating its own forces.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, former Kampi chairman, has invited Kampi congressmen and other winning administration allies to a meeting today.

“I was invited. They told me that this meeting has nothing to do with the speakership fight. I understand that they are trying to form some sort of a social and advocacy group,” Eastern Samar Gov. and Representative-elect Ben Evardone told reporters.

He said he was in his province and was not sure if he could attend. Evardone beat incumbent Rep. Teodulo Coquilla.

As for the speakership fight, he said representatives of the Samar-Leyte provinces might vote as a bloc.