LP, Puentevella camp explore possible merger

THE Liberal Party (LP) in Bacolod is currently on exploratory talks with the camp of mayoralty aspirant Monico Puentevella for a possible coalition in preparation for the 2013 elections, said lawyer Andy Hagad.

"I am among the Liberal party members who will run for councilor. Our group is talking about the possible joining of forces. We are nine LP members who will run for councilor. But everything is still on a talking stage," he said.

When Puentevella was asked who will join his slate, he named lawyers Jocelle Sigue, Ana Marie Palermo, Bong Dilag, Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, Wilson Gamboa Jr. and Frank Carbon.

He said he is still awaiting the confirmation of Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Elmer Sy and two others.

When Hagad was asked who among the LP members will run for councilor and possibly join forces with Puentevella, he named Carbon, Verdeflor, Sigue, Palermo, El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Elmer Sy and two others.

For now, they don't have a candidate for congressman, mayor and vice mayor, said Hagad.

"We plan to field purely councilors only. We talk with Monico. We will decide as a party within one or two weeks and we will come up with a line up with the approval of the LP national headquarters," he said.

This is the first time that Hagad will run for councilor. His decision stemmed from his admiration for the Aquino administration.

"If there is an LP president, we want that in the local level, there are LP members who are seated in the local posts. I hope that we can form a group which is very competent, professional and very credible. We are trying to gather this group to run for the city council because we have a theory that, regardless who sits as mayor and if the council members are strong, professional and independent, then we can check and balance each other which I think is a better formula than having a congressman, mayor, vice mayor down to councilor comes from the same party," said Hagad.

The coalition of the Nationalist People's Coalition, Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party will have to be dealt with when it is already observed in the local level.

"In the meantime, since we are in the Lone District of Bacolod where we are usually given leeway on which course of action to take, we are operating on the theory that we will present first a good proposal and then let Manila approve it," he said.

Hagad joined the LP in 2010.

"I believe in the LP ideology, principle and advocacy. During the dark times of Martial Law, the LP members stayed with the party," he said. (CNC)