More officials set to join Lakas

CEBU, Philippines – At least six congressmen, three governors and scores of local government leaders from various political parties are scheduled to take their oath as members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, a party official said yesterday.

Ray Roquero, former Lakas executive director and now interim party officer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said the oathtaking of the new administration party members, whom he declined to identify, belies reports that Lakas-Kampi members are bolting the party.

Meantime, stalwarts of the original Lakas party are reviewing, through their legal advisers, the legalities of the merger of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., who co-founded Lakas with former President Fidel Ramos and former foreign affairs secretary Raul Manglapus, told newsmen that they are studying the matter carefully “because we want to protect the historic integrity of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or its original name Lakas-NUCD-UMDP.”

“It’s very important that we rescue that party,” de Venecia said.

“We must protect the party because if the union was illegal, then there is no Lakas-Kampi merger,” he added.

De Venecia said he is going to meet with Ramos, chairman emeritus of Lakas, in the next few days, although when he and the former chief executive talked when the latter was in San Francisco a day before the merger of the parties in Manila, he was told that there are so many discrepancies in the union.

De Venecia also said they have to check whether there was really a meeting of the national directorate because the constitution and by-laws of Lakas-CMD or Lakas-NUCD-UMDP state that any merger or any amendment to the charter should be approved by the national directorate and ratified by the national assembly.

When asked if they will resort to legal actions, de Venecia said this will depend on the findings of his legal advisers.

De Venecia and Arroyo, who now chairs the merged party, had a falling out about a year ago because of the botched national broadband network deal.

It was De Venecia’s son, Joey, who exposed the alleged anomalies surrounding the project.

De Venecia clarified that because of the merger he resigned as the Lakas party’s president emeritus.

“But if there is no merger, then there is no resignation,” he said, adding that he did not resign as Lakas member. — Philippine Star news service (THE FREEMAN)