Arroyo allies lash back at ruling party ‘defectors’

MANILA – Allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lashed back at “defectors” from the new ruling coalition that arose from the merger of two pro-administration political parties.

Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government led the Arroyo allies in calling the defectors, headed by former president Fidel Ramos, as a “bunch of washed-out group with no clout.”

Puno was referring to the so-called “Lakas Originals” who announced they were bolting from the new political party, called the Lakas-Kampi CMD, which coalesced during ceremonies presided over by President Arroyo in May this year.

The new party arose from the merger of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), founded by Ramos, and the “Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino” (Kampi or Partners of the Free Filipinos), organized by President Arroyo.

In announcing their defection, the Ramos group said the merger was illegal because it was not approved by the Lakas CMD general assembly as provided by the party’s rules and regulations.

The Ramos group decision appeared to have imperiled the merger as the country’s political parties started preparing for the May 2010 in which voters are to elect the successors of President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro as well as 12 senators and provincial and local officials, like congressman, governor, mayor and councilor.

The group added it was seeking a coalition with other political parties in support of a presidential candidate.

Significantly, the defection coincided with the announcement on Wednesday of opposition Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., the son of the late global democracy icon president Corazon Aquino that he was joining the 2010 presidential race.

Aquino, more popularly known as “Cory” or “Tita (Auntie) Cory,” supported Ramos in the 1992 presidential elections, which was seen as a major boost in his victory.

However, Puno belittled the defection, saying it was merely a ploy by “washed out” politicians to call attention to themselves.

Puno, the vice chairman of the new party, added the move of the Ramos group to question the merger before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was a desperate effort with no public support to speak of.

He also questioned the timing of the move as he pointed out that Ramos should have made the effort to talk with party leaders in late May or early June shortly after the merger was finalized.

Joining Ramos in his move was former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. of Pangasinan province in Northern Luzon, also one of the Lakas founders, as well as 50 other party “originals.”

Puno insisted the merger remains strong and that its members are united despite the move by some disgruntled elements, referring to Ramos and De Venecia who was also ousted as the Lakas president after he had a falling out with President Arroyo over the alleged unabated graft and corruption in government.

For his part, Secretary Gabriel Claudio, the presidential adviser on political affairs, accused De Venecia of using Ramos for his own political agenda.

Claudio, acknowledged as the architect of the merger, said it was understandable that Ramos would appear with De Venecia in the meetings with the Lakas Originals since most of them were his friends.

Another Arroyo supporter, House Speaker Prospero Nograles agreed with Claudio, saying that he doubts whether Ramos supported the decision of De Venecia and his supporters to coalesce with other political parties and support their own presidential candidate in 2010.

Earlier, the new political party offered the post of chairman emeritus to Ramos who rejected it, saying he preferred to retain the same position in the Lakas CMD.

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