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Monday, March 10, 2008
Arroyo endorses Lakas, Kampi merger
MANILA (Updated 5 p.m.) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday endorsed the merger of the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), the party founded by the President.
Arroyo made the endorsement during her speech at the national directorate meeting of Lakas-CMD at the Manila Hotel Monday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
She said the merger will combine the talents and resources of two political parties and make it a powerhouse team of five senators, majority of the House with 143 representatives, 55 governors, 85 city mayors, 945 municipal mayors, and over 7,000 vice governors, board members, vice mayors and councilors.
She added that the merger of the parties can create the dominant support infrastructure that is a key to delivering the governance that people expect and deserve.
"With the Lakas-Kampi merger, our energies can be devoted to the strong and growing economy which is the central pillar our party has labored to create, to help guarantee peace, order and stability in our country," she said.
Early Monday morning, ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr resigned as Lakas president and was succeeded by House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
De Venecia turned down offers to serve as the party's president emeritus and also opposed the merger of Lakas and Kampi.
He said "70 percent of Lakas-CMD members are vehemently against the Lakas-CMD-Kampi merger."
He called the merger as the "kiss of death" for Lakas.
"I would rather be a mere member of the party... but I would prefer to be the conscience of the party, to prevent this party from becoming the party of corruption and becoming a party of lizards," de Venecia said.
Several Kampi stalwarts are also opposed the merger namely Representatives Jose Solis and Luis Villafuerte.
The change of party president was seen as part of a compromise formula hammered out during the Makati meeting last week in which de Venecia reportedly agreed to step down but rejected calls for him to stop attacking Arroyo.
The party spokesperson, Parañaque Representative Eduardo Zialcita, said it is high time for Nograles to assume the post saying Lakas needs a "spirited leadership to manage the intense party build-up campaign."
He said the assumption of Nograles would be formalized during the directorate meeting in which two new positions of chairman emeritus will be created.
"Two new positions, which are not specified in the party's constitution and bylaws, will be created to formalize the appointment of the two officials who will be named to these positions, namely, former president Ramos as chairman emeritus and Congressman de Venecia as president emeritus," said Zialcita.
Ramos earlier said the merger was all set to proceed as leaders of both parties expressed support for such a plan.
Formed in late 1991 when Ramos, then retired defense secretary, organized the Partido Lakas TAO, several regional political parties and people and labor organizations served as its nucleus.
In early 1992, a group of 33 congressmen supporting the presidential bid of Ramos also organized themselves into the Lakas-Edsa which at the time was led by de Venecia Jr. and former congressman Komong Sumulong.
The party has produced two presidents (Ramos and Arroyo) and currently boasts of about 80 congressmen in the House of Representatives, three senators, 55 provincial governors, 45 city mayors, and 1,200 municipal mayors making it the largest political institution in the country today. (Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (March 10, 2008 issue)
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