Noy, Mar set to attend LP convention in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – President Aquino and Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II are expected to attend the Liberal Party (LP)’s convention in Negros Occidental.  

LP provincial chairman Rep. Alfredo Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental) said they have invited the two LP stalwarts to the convention scheduled on May 4 and 5. Benitez said the convention is aimed at strengthening the LP as he expressed optimism that more local officials in Negros Occidental will join the ruling party.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Maraon Jr., also chairman of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), said they will file a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Vice President Jejomar Binay for using UNA as the name of his party.

Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) had earlier joined forces with Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada to form a new coalition called the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Maraon’s UNA is the biggest coalition of major political parties in Negros Occidental. Binay and Estrada have agreed to form a coalition to field common senatorial candidates in the 2013 elections. Binay has also expressed interest in running for president in 2016 under the UNA slate.  

Maraon said his lawyers are now preparing the complaint which will be submitted to the Comelec as soon as Binay registers his UNA party with the poll body.

Former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco said the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), of which he and Maraon are members, is in coalition with the Aquino administration in the House of Representatives.

Maranon also said the transfer of local officials to other political parties is part of “democracy in action.” Maraon was referring to the recent transfer of 3rd District Board Member Patrick Lacson and Silay City Vice Mayor Mark Golez from Lakas-CMD to PMP.     

Lacson and Golez took their oath as PMP members before Estrada at his home in San Juan City last week.        

Lacson and Golez are considered allies of Benitez.