Sunday, June 11, 2006
Poll body to try to reconcile 2 factions in Liberal Party
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated new Commissioner Rene Sarmiento to broker reconciliation talks between the two warring groups of the Liberal Party (LP).
Borra said the Comelec en banc, acting on a petition filed by Senate President Franklin Drilon questioning the legality of the party elections conducted last March 2 led by Manila Mayor Jose "Lito" Atienza, passed a resolution appointing Sarmiento as negotiator and to convince the two factions to unite.
Drilon had filed a petition before the Comelec to bar Atienza and his supporters from representing themselves as the new officers of the party as he called Atienza's action as "illegal and a grave violation of LP rules."
"Commission Sarmiento was designated to make proper reconciliation efforts and to persuade both parties to be united as one again," Borra said.
He said the Comelec en banc gave Sarmiento one week to make the two parties reconcile and settle their dispute amicably.
According to Borra the resolution promulgated last Friday aims to restore peace within the LP as well as among its members.
Sarmiento's job, Borra said, would not only focus on "settling the disagreement" amicably between the Drilon and Atienza factions but likewise determine what brought about the feud.
Pending the reconciliation talks to be brokered by Sarmiento, Borra said the en banc will defer any ruling on the case.
Last Thursday, the Drilon and Atienza factions submitted their respective stipulation of facts and were advised to submit their respective memoranda within the next 20 days. (MSN/Sunnex)
(June 11, 2006 issue)
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