LP-led coalition to declare free zones in 2013 polls

Manila, Philippines -  The envisioned administration coalition to be led by the ruling Liberal Party will declare free zones in certain provinces, districts, cities, and towns in next year’s elections, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said yesterday.

Abad, a leader of the ruling party, said conflict at the local level is inevitable among members of the LP and its prospective coalition partners, the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

“We will have an arbitration committee to resolve disputes, but in cases where conflicts cannot be resolved, we will be forced to declare free zones,” he said.

A free zone is where no administration candidate will be fielded and where coalition partners will be free to fight each other.

President Aquino himself has acknowledged that conflict at the local level would be unavoidable.

Aquino’s LP is in the advanced stage of forging a coalition with the NP of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and with NPC, which is identified with his uncle, billionaire businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., and with San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang.

The three parties will field a common senatorial ticket in the May 2013 elections.

Already sure to have slots in the ticket are Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda of the NPC, and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV and Villar’s wife Cynthia, who are NP members. Abad said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. would most likely make it to the coalition slate.

Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, has junked the United Nationalist Alliance of his party chairman, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and former President Joseph Estrada.

Members of the three large political parties making up the administration coalition expect many areas where there could be a free-for-all.

Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, who belongs to LP, has cited the case of Taguig, where the mayor is Cayetano’s wife Lani, a former congresswoman.

The Cayetanos belong to Villar’s NP, while their political opponents, the Tingas, are members of the ruling party, according to Tañada.

The newest potential problem area is the fourth district of Camarines Sur, where movie actor Aga Muhlach plans to fight the Fuentebellas in the congressional race.

Muhlach joined the Liberal Party over the weekend. The Fuentebellas have been loyal NPC members.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Ray Villafuerte reportedly recruited Muhlach to the ruling party.

Villafuerte will run for congressman in the second district against incumbent Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, younger son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

A son of LRay plans to run for governor against his grandfather, incumbent third district Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who is a member of NPC.