Mass exodus to LP hurting Lakas' speakership bid

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines  – The continuing exodus of lawmakers into the camp of president-elect Benigno Aquino III is hurting the chances of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD to bag the leadership of the House of Representatives, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said yesterday.

Lagman admitted the defections are depleting the ranks of Lakas.

He said lawmakers belonging to other political parties are also moving to the Liberal Party (LP) in the effort to solidify the new political leadership.

“At present, Lakas-Kampi-CMD remains as the biggest bloc in the House though there is an ongoing mass exodus by congressmen from Lakas, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Nacionalista Party (NP) into the LP of incoming President Aquino,” Lagman said.

Lagman has been named as the ruling party’s bet for the speakership against Quezon City representative-elect Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte.

Although the defections are hurting Lakas, Lagman said this does not rule out his chances of being voted as the next Speaker in the incoming 15th Congress.

Lagman said he is expecting a solid vote from Lakas after President Arroyo, as Pampanga representative-elect, had already turned down offers to be the Lakas bet for Speaker.

“In fact President Arroyo, ever since, did not hint any interest to become the next House Speaker. Such talk is purely speculation coming from her critics,” Lagman said.

Being the dominant party with the highest number of lawmakers elected by the people, Lakas is expected to vie for the top post in the House, Lagman said.

“We will be remiss in our constitutional mandate if no candidate is fielded by Lakas, being the party with the highest number of elected representatives,” he said.

Lagman said it is also expected from lawmakers to gravitate toward the political party of the newly elected president for practical reasons.

He said it is a political tradition that usually takes place every time there is a change in the country’s leadership.

This developed as 13 new congressmen declared their support for the legislative agenda of Aquino.

Calling their group as “Neophytes for Reform,” Quezon City representative-elect Winnie Castelo led the new elected lawmakers in declaring a manifesto of support for the Aquino administration.

Castelo said their group is willing to support the incoming administration in its agenda of change.

“The convening of the Neophytes for Reform signals the beginning of our serious efforts to unify reform-minded neophytes from different political parties, party-list groups and regions across the country,” a portion of the manifesto read.

“It’s a great time to be a Filipino. At last, a new generation of reform-minded leaders is now given the chance to make a difference for our country. It’s the time for working together and doing the hard work of nation building,” they declared.

Among the signatories were Reps. Miro Quimbo of Marikina, Jorge “Bolet” Banal of Quezon City, Imelda Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay City, Dakila Carlo-Cua of Quirino, Linabelle Villarica of Bulacan, and Arnel Cerafica of Taguig-Pateros.

Also included were television host Lucy Torres-Gomez, as Leyte representative-elect; Hadjiman Hataman-Saliman of Basilan, Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon, Arnel Ty of LPGMA party-list, Randolph Ting of Cagayan, and Eric Owen Singson of Ilocos Sur.

The new lawmakers said they will “only support a House leadership that will stand behind president-elect Aquino’s platform of change.”

“We urge fellow neophyte solons to rally behind the reform agenda,” they said. - With Delon Porcalla