PPC resolving conflicts in local levels; poll fraud plot bared

The administration People Power Coalition (PPC) is facing a lot of problems in the provincial, district, city, and town levels but it is now in the process of resolving them, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

"We admit there are many conflicts among our members, but the coalition continues to arbitrate them," he told reporters.

Belmonte is executive vice president of Lakas, one of several political groups under the PPC umbrella.

He said he was aware of the reported case of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, where local leaders supporting the Arroyo administration are protesting the designation of former Agriculture Secretary Roberto Sebastian as PPC chairman for the two areas.

Sebastian, who failed in his first senatorial bid in 1998, belongs to Executive Secretary Renato de Villa’s Reporma, another PPC member-party.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, and Rep. Antonio Floirendo (Independent, Davao del Norte) and Prospero Amatong (Lakas, Compostela Valley) are protesting Sebastian’s appointment.

Belmonte revealed that Amatong has complained to him that the designated PPC chairman for the two neighboring provinces was about to nominate another candidate for congressman in his district.

Quoting the Compostela Valley lawmaker, he said Sebastian’s plan was unfair to him since he and Floirendo had supported the impeachment process against Estrada from the start.

He said he would convey their sentiments to PPC officials.

The Speaker pointed out that even in Quezon City, where he is running for mayor, there is rivalry between him and Rep. Dante Liban, who supported the impeachment process and is bent on seeking the mayoralty.

"Okay lang, we cannot always rearrange the landscape," he said. He added that he will be the Lakas and PPC mayoral candidate in the city.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition of businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. has decided to support Belmonte’s candidacy.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina said yesterday he would actively campaign for the PPC senatorial ticket to ensure the victory of the administration party in the May 14 polls.

He noted that the justice department has already ruled that Cabinet members are not barred from campaigning for the senatorial candidates of the administration party.

However, he said his main priority is to streamline the DILG to make it a lean but efficient office in delivering basic services to the countryside. – With Perseus Echeminada