Loren defends self

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda defended herself yesterday over criticisms that she is a political turncoat for shifting loyalties from one political party to another.

Legarda took a potshot at her rival, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, whom she said initially became a Cabinet secretary under former President Joseph Estrada, later on under the Arroyo administration, then joined calls for President Arroyo to resign.

Apparently irked by insinuations from her detractors that she is a political turncoat, Legarda explained she was with the administration party Lakas and later on joined the coalition of the Kilusang ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) where she was the running mate of presidential bet, the late Fernando Poe Jr., in 2007.

“I was then with Lakas. I shifted to KNP through a coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of which I remain a member until now,” Legarda said over radio dzRH. – Christina Mendez