LP snubs Lim at induction of party president

The Liberal Party, one of the country's oldest political parties, "failed" to invite one of its prominent members - Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim - to an induction of its officers yesterday at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

And such a failure spawned nasty rumors, all pointing to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, a member of the party's organizing committee who is also a political rival of Lim in the mayoral race.

According to Jesus Santos, the chairman of the LP in Bulacan, Lim failed to attend the event because the former mayor was not invited at all.

He said that when he asked former Deputy Speaker Raul Daza why Lim was not invited, the former congressman said he had been informed that Lim was actually given seven letters of invitation.

But Lim said he only got an invitation on the eve of the anniversary.

Santos also said that the interior secretary was not informed about the election of officers of the party last year.

"How can they overlook Lim?" Santos asked, adding that Lim was the party's standard-bearer in the 1998 presidential elections.

Santos surmised that the failure to invite their former presidential candidate could be traced to the political rift between Lim and Atienza.

"Atienza was among those who organized the induction of officers. It was obvious that it was his gimmick," Santos said.

Former LP president Jovito Salonga said he will call to a meeting newly inducted LP president Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad, secretary-general Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III and Lim to discuss the perceived faux pas.

"I was surprised about it. We will find out who was at fault," Salonga said.