FORMER president Fidel Ramos said Thursday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her close allies are to blame for what is happening at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
The administration party saw the defection of several key members to other parties and the resignation of its standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro as chairman, a month before the May 10 presidential elections.
Though he did not mentioned the name of the President, Ramos, who left Thursday to attend the Boao forum in China took a dig at Arroyo, her family, and close allies.
“I'm still so concerned about the future and the capabilities of the original Lakas-CMD, which has an international reach and whose philosophy of governance for the people remains unchanged, and that's common good, not for particular families and oligarchs who want to stay in power. I think that's the problem now with the merged party,” Ramos said.
He has refused to serve as chairman emeritus of the ruling party when it merged last year while her close ally, former House speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., even went as far as questioning the merger before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Supreme Court (SC).
Ramos and De Venecia along with former senator Raul Manglapus founded Lakas in 1991 and served as the former’s political vehicle when he run for president in 1992.
He also asked Arroyo to disclose her plans to the public to end speculation that she is planning to extend her stay in Malacanang.
Last week, Teodoro quit as chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, saying he wants to focus on his campaign for the presidency though various reports alleged that he gave up his post to protest the lack of support from President Arroyo.
Reports also said the President’s husband, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, was secretly supporting the candidacy of Senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP), which both camps denied.
Following Teodoro’s resignation, two other Lakas officials -- Francis Manglapus and Saranggani Governor Miguel Dominguez -- also resigned from their position as secretary general and party president.
Teodoro was replaced by Representative Amelita Villarosa.
At the same time, Ramos hinted that there could be changes in the ruling party though he refused to comment further saying meetings and discussions are still being done.
“Wala pang maliwanag na maaring sabihin. I am just getting information from outside because I have refused to be active in the so called Lakas-Kampi, which I refuse to join as chair emeritus,” he said. (AH/Sunnex)