Comelec nullifies Atienza’s election as LP president

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) nullified yesterday the election last March of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza as president of the Liberal Party, saying Sen. Franklin Drilon remains as the duly elected president of the LP despite moves by his partymates to oust him.

In a 17-page decision, the Comelec en banc unanimously nullified the election of Atienza as LP president and ordered another election of officers on Nov. 13.

Both camps of Atienza and Drilon welcomed the decision of the Comelec.

According to the Comelec, the LP election conducted last March 2 was in gross violation of the party’s constitution and is therefore invalid.

Atienza led a party convention in March in a move to oust Drilon as LP president which worsened the internal dispute in the party.

The LP faction led by Atienza tried to oust Drilon after the senator and his party allies supported efforts to impeach President Arroyo.

Drilon later asked the Comelec to nullify the election of Atienza and his allies and prevent them from taking over the LP leadership considering that their election was not authorized by the party.

The Comelec stressed that the LP national assembly, which elects the new officers, may only be convened upon the call of the party president or by the executive committee by a majority vote of the members.

"In the instant case the assembly was convened by the respondent (Atienza) who is not a party president and therefore unauthorized to convene the same," the Comelec pointed out.

With the nullification of the party’s March 2 election wherein Atienza was elected LP president, the Comelec also prohibited Atienza and the other officials elected with him from representing themselves as officers of the party and to refrain from performing the duties of party officers.

It is essential for the Comelec to know the legitimate party president so they could determine which party candidates would be accredited in the next elections.

Atienza welcomed the decision of the Comelec to declare vacant all positions in the LP leadership but debunked the claim of Drilon that he is still party president as the Atienza faction accepted the poll body’s ruling that the party hold new elections on Nov. 13 at the Manila Hotel.

He, however, said that the new LP leadership should not only be confined to the National Executive Committee (NECO), but must include all party members to settle the leadership dispute.

"Letting the general leadership decide will genuinely reflect the true sentiments of the whole party and unite the LP," Atienza said.

He said the general leadership includes all incumbent elected national and local officials such as senators, congressmen, governors, vice governors, provincial board members, city and municipal mayors, vice mayors and councilors.

Atienza’s camp is set to file a motion for partial reconsideration with the Comelec to appeal the process proposed by the poll body confining a national party decision only to a selected few in the NECO and not the whole party leadership.

Drilon said that the decision of the Comelec paves the way for the healing process within the party.

"Our actions have always been consistent with the Constitution and by-laws of the party and I never doubted that the legality of our case would be upheld by the Comelec and any other court of law," he said.

Drilon appealed to all LP members to let this Comelec ruling signal the beginning of the reunification of the party whose tradition of principled politics and dedication to good governance continue to serve as a fountain of hope for many Filipinos.

The Drilon and Atienza factions of the LP started their feud with the latter supporting the Arroyo administration and the former withdrawing support from the President.

With the two sides standing firm on their respective positions, Atienza and his top ally presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor declared all positions within the party vacant and subsequently held an election of new officers.

Atienza was elected LP’s new president but the entire election was disputed by the Drilon wing.

The Drilon faction said the entire exercise was illegal because it was not sanctioned under the LP constitution and by-laws.

Drilon pointed out that only the party president can convene a meeting of either the National Executive Committee or the National Political Council.

"Our differences brought about by petty political interests are too insignificant compared to the noble LP mission to bring about an equitable, just and progressive Filipino society," Drilon said.

"Once again, I extend my hand of friendship to all Liberals who share our vision of making LP the dominant political party in the Philippines in the near future. As destiny would have it, the LP is the party of the future," he added.

LP secretary general and Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta Jr. said that the LP lawyers would have to study that provision of the Comelec’s decision.

"We are not adverse to holding elections. But we have directed our lawyers to study its implications on the remaining terms of office of the legitimate party officers," Acosta said. — With Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan