Lakas not fielding senatorial candidates in 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Lakas-CMD party is not fielding senatorial candidates in the May 2013 mid-term elections to consolidate its political base in the countryside and ensure the victory of the party’s local bets.

Raul Lambino, spokesman of Lakas-CMD, told reporters during a news forum in Quezon City that after its defeat in the 2010 elections, Lakas-CMD is in the process of rehabilitating its party machinery, which has been marred by defection in the last two years.

Lambino said they are conducting head counts of loyal party members, mostly lawmakers, city and municipal mayors.

“Our party machinery is intact at the local level, city and municipal mayors and congressmen are not leaving the party,” he said.

Lambino said 40 lawmakers did not abandon the party despite forging alliance with the coalition at the House of Representatives.

He said Lakas has also severed its ties with Kampi party and restored its original political title, Lakas-CMD which is affiliated with the largest Christian Democratic parties in Europe and Asia.

Although the party is not fielding Senate bets, Lambino said they will be supporting former party members who are running under the United Nationalist Party (UNA), the coalition between Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada.

He said the party will support the senatorial bid of Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay.