'Clamor for Noynoy making LP stronger'

MANILA, Philippines - The public clamor for Sen. Benigno Aquino III to seek higher office would further strengthen the Liberal Party (LP) for next year’s elections, former Senate president Franklin Drilon said yesterday.

The LP national chairman said critics were “wasting their time with ignorant speculations” in trying to put a wedge between Aquino and Sen. Manuel Roxas II, LP president.

“It only underscores that the LP’s deep bench of astute, esteemed and principled political leaders nationwide is actually the envy of other political parties,” he said.

Drilon said he expects Aquino to decide whether to aspire for higher office next year after the 40th day of mourning for his mother.

“The pronounced public clamor for Sen. Noynoy Aquino to run for higher public office as an afterglow of the phenomenal outpouring of love and affection for his parents, Cory and Ninoy Aquino, is a blessing for the LP,” he said.

Drilon said the LP, by tradition, is composed of mature and principled statesmen-politicians who will always put the welfare of the country above self-interest.

“We have a reform agenda that we are determined to implement and bring about the dynamic and good governance this country has been waiting for. In the LP, politics is not just personalities; it’s about pursuing reforms and good governance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Drilon said he supports the position of Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, LP secretary-general, to dismiss the demand of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza for the LP leadership to hold an open national convention to select the party candidates next year.

Atienza could not speak as an LP member because he was no longer with the party, Abaya said.

Drilon said the Supreme Court had ruled against Atienza’s move to wrest the party leadership when the LP broke away from the administration over the unresolved questions of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.

“The Supreme Court has said that the rump session Atienza held at the manila Hotel was illegal and we are the duly-recognized officials of the party,” he said.

Drilon said Atienza has already been expelled from the party.

“Thus he has no right to ask for a convention since he is no longer a member of the Liberal party.”

The Commission on Elections had also confirmed the legality of the current LP leadership during the 2007 senatorial elections, Drilon said.  

Abaya said Atienza’s recent attacks on the LP leadership were obviously intended to cause wrangling within the party.

“Secretary Atienza is a part of the Arroyo administration and therefore speaks for Malacañang,” he said.

“The administration is trying very hard to drive a wedge within the LP because the LP is growing stronger every day, gaining allies from the ranks of incumbent officials geared towards good governance and sectors fighting for reform.”

Atienza was sowing intrigue against the LP and Roxas despite a Comelec ruling that upheld the party leadership’s decision to oust him from the party, Abaya said.