GMA to talk to Bayani on party issues

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo will assuage the hurt feelings of Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority after he was not chosen Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer, Malacañang said yesterday.

In a telephone interview, Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser for political affairs, said Mrs. Arroyo will talk with Fernando regarding his sentiments and other party issues after she returns from Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia later this week.

“BF (Fernando’s nickname) is valued not only because of his exemplary work in the Cabinet but also his political status in the party,” he said.

“I think she (Mrs. Arroyo) will do her listening to BF at the same time clarifying certain issues on the (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) selection process.

 “She would try to reassure him of the good intentions of his party mates (in choosing Teodoro).”

Former President Fidel Ramos, whose exact title in Lakas-Kampi-CMD has yet to be resolved, would also try to reassure Fernando of the strong support of his party mates, he added.

However, Claudio said it would be premature to talk about offering Fernando a slot in the pro-administration party’s senatorial ticket.

“Any offer without due consultation with him could be misconstrued and presumptuous or even add insult to the injury,” he said.

Claudio said the process by which Lakas-Kampi-CMD  members arrived at a consensus in favor of Teodoro “has been transparent and legal.”

“We would like to think that both FVR and BF would have seen the fairness and judiciousness by which the consensus was arrived at,” he said.

The decision of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD governing body would still have to be ratified in a national convention next month, Claudio said.

Esperon joins Lakas-Kampi

Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Management Staff chief, has joined the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Esperon was sworn in by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, party president, last week.

“Rest assured that I will remain steadfast and unwavering in adhering to the principles of the party and backed up by solid and comprehensive programs for the country,” Esperon said.

He concurrently serves as chairman of the Pro-Performance Team, or President Arroyo’s Infrastructure Monitoring Team, that oversees the implementation of the President’s priority infrastructure projects.

Esperon and the Pro-Performance Team has pushed multi-billion flagship projects of the national government for thousands of Filipinos, including new roads and bridges, ports, airports and irrigation facilities for improved agricultural harvests, among others.