Malacañang downplays Lakas-Kampi defections

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has downplayed concerns about defections from the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats to other political parties because of the slow pace of choosing the party’s standard-bearer.

Presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio, who serves as Lakas-Kampi secretary-general, said the selection process “is well within its proper strategic time frame.”

“We do not foresee defections of party members. On the contrary, some congressmen and local executives from other parties are poised to join the administration coalition,” he said.

“The national executive committee of the party has been meeting regularly and is determined to make the decision and choice of its presidential candidate within this month.”

However, Claudio is confident that once the party announces its standard-bearer, members would feel more stable.

Members of the other political parties could end up joining Lakas- Kampi-CMD, he added.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo “has still much faith in the coalition of which she is the focal person.”

“The selection process for the Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer would test the loyalty of party members,” he added.

Claudio said the head start of other political parties in announcing their standard-bearers should not be seen as a disadvantage for Lakas-Kampi.

Peaking too soon has its disadvantages and could lead to disaster as what happened to some parties in the past, he added.

Some parties performed well in surveys months before the elections but dropped off significantly as the elections drew near, Remonde said.

Earlier, Claudio said the announcement of the party’s standard- bearer could come out as early as next week.

Consultations are being concluded and the positions of all the members are being consolidated, he added.

The main issue being tackled is whether or not to tap someone from outside Lakas-Kampi.

Some party members like Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando have been very vocal about limiting the choices to within the party.

Other members were more open to the idea of expanding the choices because of the apparent lack of strong candidates from Lakas-Kampi.

President Arroyo, Lakas-Kampi chair, has signified interest in tapping Vice President Noli de Castro as standard-bearer primarily because of his popularity.

De Castro has yet to signify interest in joining the party, as well as his intention to run for president next year.

Lakas-Kampi to choose standard-bearer

Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday Lakas-Kampi will eventually choose its standard-bearer.

“We have enough time to deliberate and research and assess,” he said in a text message.

“Even the opposition keeps changing its choices. (Sen.) Mar (Roxas) et al just threw in the towel for (Sen.) Noynoy (Aquino).”

Nograles said Lakas-Kampi is undertaking the process to choose their standard-bearer.

“Surely we will come up with a correct political move at the proper time,” he said.

“It’s normal to feel uneasy now but once a decision is reached the administration machinery is so organized that the implementation of the decision won’t be very difficult.

“The opposition is more bothered or troubled about their call for unification than we are about selecting our standard-bearer.”

Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, a Lakas-Kampi stalwart, said the administration’s failure to come up with a presidential or vice presidential aspirant makes it difficult for them to win the elections.

“We are running out of time, we don’t see any senatoriables floating themselves, we don’t see them campaigning, you don’t even know who the presidentiables are, we don’t even know who the vice presidentiables are,” she said.

Magsaysay feared that the pro-administration party might not be able to wage a good campaign if it fails to choose a presidential candidate in the coming weeks.

“So those of us in the local level are just fixing our local ticket,” she said. “That is what’s sure, what’s constant. We need re-election, so if you need re-election you have to be practical.”

Magsaysay said Lakas-Kampi party members – from top to bottom - may end up supporting different presidential candidates.

“What could happen is that we’ll be united locally but not on the presidential level, since by now the local officials are being courted (by different candidates).”

Reggie Velasco, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general, said national officers will be conducting “regional consultations” to get the pulse of the local executives as to who they want to endorse for the 2010 presidential elections.

Consultations will continue until the end of this month, he added.

A “mini convention” will be held in Metro Manila on Oct. 15, or more than a month before the Nov. 30 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy, Velasco said. — With Delon Porcalla