Sanctions mulled against Lakas defectors

MANILA, Philippines - The Lakas-Kampi-CMD leadership is mulling sanctions against party defectors following the recent defection of Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri to the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD chair and standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that while the party will take appropriate measures against defectors, there was no need to conduct a loyalty check among their members.

“The party will not conduct a loyalty check but the party will take appropriate measures,” Teodoro said in an interview at a campaign sortie in Barangay Calumpang, Marikina City yesterday. He, however, declined to say what particular sanction will be imposed on Zubiri, the Lakas chairman in Bukidnon, saying he is leaving the matter to the party executive committee.

Prior to his defection, Zubiri was one of Teodoro’s most vocal supporters.

At Teodoro’s birthday party last year, the governor publicly declared his unequivocal support for Teodoro’s presidential bid.

According to reports, Zubiri allegedly transferred to Villar’s camp because of huge financial considerations.

However, Zubiri failed to convince his son Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to join Villar’s camp.

Teodoro said he never doubted Senator Zubiri and his brother Joey and Bukidnon Rep. Candido Pancrudo’s loyalty to the administration party.

“They may be a family but each has a mind of his own and can decide on his own,” Teodoro said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, 51 provincial governors from the country’s vote-rich regions have forged a “multiparty alliance” and vowed to campaign and deliver the votes for Teodoro.

In a manifesto of support adopted last week, the governors said their decision to back Gibo was taken after careful consideration of the track record, qualifications and platform of government of each of the presidential bets.

“Having completed our review, our candidate for President has to be ‘Gibo’ Teodoro and no other, and for whom we hereby commit ourselves to campaigning nationwide, among our local constituencies - our vice-governors, our board members, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, barangay captains and other local leaders - with the view to deliver to him the highest possible number of votes in our local areas,” the governors said in their joint manifesto.