JDV on Lakas-Kampi standard bearer: Not so fast

MANILA, Philippines - The pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD cannot choose its standard bearer and other candidates for next year’s elections until the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has resolved a petition questioning the merger of the two parties, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. said yesterday.

De Venecia, who filed the petition, said Lakas-Kampi cannot field candidates in the May 2010 elections because it has not been accredited and recognized as a political party by the Comelec.

“They cannot do that until our petition questioning the merger is resolved,” he said. “This is a bogus, an illegal party. President Arroyo appointed herself as chairman and then named the other officers. She appointed FVR (Fidel Ramos) as chairman emeritus, but FVR rejected it.”

The Comelec is set to hear De Venecia’s petition on Thursday.

However, De Venecia said Kampi as a Comelec-registered political party can choose and field candidates on its own.

“But they have to declare that they are Kampi, not Lakas-Kampi candidates,” he said.

“They have no right using the name of Lakas. Their continued use of the name of our party is part of the colossal fraud and grand deception they are perpetrating on our people.”

The merger of Lakas and Kampi was illegal since members of the Lakas national directorate did not approve it as required by the party’s constitution and bylaws, he added.

De Venecia said they will take the case to the Supreme Court if they lose in the Comelec.

“In the meantime, there will be no Lakas-Kampi candidates,” he said.

De Venecia has been joined by scores of original Lakas members in questioning the union of Lakas and Kampi before the Comelec.

Ramos co-founded Lakas with De Venecia shortly before winning the presidential elections in 1992.

Fernando: Hold fair selection process

Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority called yesterday for a fair selection process in choosing the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer.

In a statement, Fernando said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lakas-Kampi president, appears to favor Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.

On the other hand, presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio, Lakas-Kampi secretary-general, is urging Vice President Noli de Castro to join the party and be part of the selection process, he added.

Fernando said he agrees with former President Fidel Ramos’s proposal to hold a party convention to allow party members to make their choice.

“I hope the selection process will be fair to everyone and they will avoid favoritism,” he said.

“It is not good if vested interest will prevail over the interest of the people. Only loyal and original members of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi should be included in the selection process for its standard bearer in the 2010 elections.”

Teodoro was a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition before joining Lakas-Kampi, while De Castro is yet to decide if he will join the party.

Fernando said loyalty and dedication to the party are two of the important qualities of a future president.

“It is loyalty not only to the party but more importantly shows a person’s level of commitment,” he said.

Fernando said he is the only original Lakas member who is seeking the party nomination as standard-bearer.

“I am confident that I will clinch the nomination of the party and when that happens I have an equal chance as any of the candidates,” he said.

Fernando said his performance in the surveys would still improve once the party chooses him as the candidate for president.

“Everyone should be a bayani (hero) in his/her own way,” he said.

Fernando said he will win the support of voters from Metro Manila, and Central and Southern Luzon.

As president, one of his priorities is to promote technology as a tool in providing basic services in the most remote barangays, he added.

 ‘Lakas-Kampi remains strong’

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said yesterday Lakas-Kampi remains strong despite the exodus of key figures.

“Sa nakikita kong galaw ng Lakas ngayon, malakas pa rin,” he said.

Speaking over radio, Revilla said Lakas has the resources and machinery to propel its candidates to victory in next year’s elections.

“May edge pa rin ang Lakas,” he said.

Revilla said former president Ramos, Lakas founder, will return to Lakas after severing his ties from the merged party.

“In the end, sa tingin ko ay nasa tabi pa rin sya ng Lakas,” he said Revilla. — With Jose Rodel Clapano, Dennis Carcamo