|
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Lacson camp appeals SC ruling on LDP rift
By Benjamin B. Pulta
OPPOSITION presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson's bloc in the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) led by Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino Friday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its ruling recognizing Sen. Edgardo Angara's faction in the intra-party rift.
In a 32-paged motion for reconsideration, Aquino, through lawyer Jayjay Mendoza, said Angara has defected from the party and no longer has the authority to nominate its standard-bearer when he actively supported the presidential candidacy of movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., who is not a member of the LDP party.
In addition, Angara also accepted the chairmanship of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) that has fielded Poe as their presidential candidate.
"The acceptance of Senator Angara of the chairmanship of the KNP, which was organized as a political party, distinct and separate, from the LDP has caused his loss of membership and standing in this instant petition," he said.
Lacson maintained that he is still the presidential bet of the LDP despite a decision by the Supreme Court declaring him as an independent candidate and not of the LDP.
On Dec. 7, 2003, the Aquino bloc pointed out that Angara filed a verified petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to register the KNP as a separate political party and field its own candidates in the May 10, 2004 national and local elections against candidates of the other political parties, including the LDP.
The other LDP members who joined Angara in registering the KNP were Joaquin Chipeco, Rep. Tessie Aquino-Oreta, former Rep. Miguel Romero. Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Enrique Zaldivar.
"By forming and/or joining another political party with a complete platform of government against the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino Angara, Chipeco, Aquino-Oreta, Romero, Sotto III, and Zaldivar had expressly abandoned and/or forfeited their respective membership with the LDP," Aquino said.
In effect, he said, they had renounced all their rights and privileges in the party, which includes acting and/or occupying any position, representing the LDP in any and all functions, transactions, official communications such as certificates of nomination accompanying the certificates of candidacy of its candidates.
"By publicly espousing and actively supporting the candidacy of Poe, who is not even a member of the LDP, as against the party's legitimate member Lacson, Angara and the others had overtly committed treason in its highest form," he said.
"The act (of treason), by its very nature, no longer requires any formality from the party hierarchy for their expulsion therefrom," he added.
Accordingly, the remaining ranking and last logical officer of the LDP to sign the certificates of nominations of its candidates is Aquino, being as the party
secretary-general," Angara said.
Aquino said up to now, Angara has yet to call for a convention of the National Party Congress because of financial constraints.
"Thus, the nomination of Poe as the official candidate of LDP although publicly announced by the party chairman Angara cannot bind the party being not made by the National Congress. Party Chairman Angara is not the National Congress," Aquino said.
The SC earlier recognized the LDP Wing of Angara as the legitimate one, marginalizing Lacson and his supporters led by Aquino.
The decision, in effect, denies the Lacson's camp copies of the certificates of canvass of the Comelec and the right to field watchers in election precincts.
(March 20, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
