GMA allies start defecting to LP

MANILA, Philippines - Allies of outgoing President Arroyo have started to leave the once formidable ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD and have defected to the Liberal Party (LP) of incoming president Benigno Aquino III, which will soon be the majority party in the House of Representatives.

Re-elected Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, who is also LP spokesman, confirmed that 30 to 40 Lakas-Kampi congressmen would take their oath as LP members on Friday at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.

Tañada said both Aquino and Quezon City representative-elect Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who will most likely be the next Speaker, welcomed this development.

“These congressmen have undergone the process. They have to acknowledge, too, that there is a process within the party, and initially, no one is objecting to the membership of these congressmen,” Tañada said.

Sources say Belmonte’s bid for speaker is supported by 165 congressmen from LP and other parties like the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Nacionalista Party that have agreed to form a coalition with Aquino’s party.

It was earlier reported that Lakas originals, led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, would comprise the minority in the House, which includes Mrs. Arroyo, incoming congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga.

Candidates for speaker need the vote of a majority of the 270-member House. Lakas-Kampi-CMD used to be the biggest power bloc in the House but party members are expected to dwindle following the victory of Aquino.

Tañada clarified, however, that there is no commitment or promises to lawmakers who have joined the alliance with LP.

He said the new members should respect the decision of the LP and the new speaker in designating committee chairmanships, which will also be consulted with president-elect Aquino.

Original LP members, of course, will have priority in vital and juicy committees, among them the committees on appropriations, accounts, justice, defense and even members of the Commission on Appointments. 

Pacquiao might join LP

Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who was elected congressman of Sarangani, may be one of the 40 or so lawmakers who have defected from their party and will soon be joining the LP.

An LP leader who refused to be quoted hinted that Pacquiao might be among the LP’s newest members. “Pacquiao is among those expected to show up on Friday (for the LP oath taking). But nothing is final until he takes his oath.”

Pacquiao, who ran under the banner of the Nacionalista Party of defeated presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar, and his wife Jinkee had earlier visited Aquino at his residence on Times Street in Quezon City.