Drilon faction in Liberal Party mulls legal action against Comelec

Sen. Franklin Drilon’s faction of the Liberal Party is studying possible legal action on the recent ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that nullified the election of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza as party president and set new party elections in November.

While both the rival camps of Drilon and Atienza welcomed the Comelec decision, members of the Drilon faction are planning to question the poll body’s ruling as an intervention on the affairs of a legitimate political party. There were reports that the issue of Comelec intervention could be raised before the Supreme Court.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos defended yesterday the poll body’s decision and expressed hope for the early settlement of the infighting in the LP.

"We are very concerned about this portion of the Comelec order because it may constitute interference into the internal affairs of a political party," Sen. Mar Roxas II said. "Since political parties are the very essence of our democracy, the freedom to assemble... this possible intervention from the outside is very worrisome that is why we asked our lawyers to clarify this and to give us their recommendation."

Roxas, the LP executive vice president, along with partymates Reps. Nerius Acosta and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III who supported Drilon, held a press conference yesterday at Club Filipino in San Juan. Drilon is at the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Comelec move was a "precedent" because it seemed the poll body had intervened in the party’s dispute, which should have been threshed out within the organization.

LP members questioned why the Comelec even came out with specific dates, venue and who should be allowed to participate in the Nov. 13 party elections.

Acosta, who is LP secretary general, said the party will certainly hold elections but he also expressed apprehensions over the Comelec’s alleged interference in affairs of a political party.

In a 17-page decision, the Comelec granted the petition filed by Drilon asking that Atienza and his pro-GMA faction be prohibited from misrepresenting themselves as the new officers of the LP, maintaining that the elections held at the Manila Hotel, were illegal, illegitimate and violated party rules.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the party leaders must appeal for a reconsideration in its directive calling for party elections in November.

"I appeal for sobriety from all my fellow party members on the recent ruling of the Comelec on the Liberal Party. The ruling to elect new party leaders has been met with mixed feelings," Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan also urged his partymates to return to the basic reason why we all decided to join the party.

"Sixty years ago the LP was formed to create and institute reforms. It is but fitting that this decision comes before we end our 60th anniversary. Our founders sought to represent the aspirations and goals of our countrymen, let’s do the same and work towards a win-win solution in this matter," he said.

The Drilon faction welcomed the decision of the Comelec ruling declaring as illegal and null and void the LP elections conducted by the Atienza faction at the Manila Hotel last March 2.

Atienza also held a press conference at the Manila City Hall and appealed to all LP members to unite and join in the healing process by participating in the Nov. 13 party elections at the Manila Hotel.

The members of the Atienza group said they have always been calling for new elections to settle the party leadership dispute but Drilon’s faction sought the intervention of the Comelec.

Abalos said the Comelec ordered the holding of new election for president of the Liberal Party because Drilon should only serve the unexpired term of resigned LP president Florencio Abad.

"Based on our findings Drilon was elected after Abad resigned as party president therefore he should only be serving the unexpired term (of Abad)," Abalos said.

Abalos said the Comelec also welcomes the filing of a motion of reconsideration by the camps of Drilon and Atienza.