Ping rebukes Quimbo over remark on party loyalty

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party spokesman and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo got a virtual reprimand from former senator Panfilo Lacson yesterday after the congressman cautioned LP senatorial bets against joining the slates of other political parties.

Lacson is being considered as a guest senatorial candidate of the LP, the independent tandem of Sens. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, and the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

Lacson reacted to Quimbo’s statement that LP senatorial candidates should have undivided support for LP standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II.

“I value my word as I value my integrity and honor. I need not be told and worse, in a veiled threat manner that some people want to project,” Lacson said in a statement.

Lacson also said he had talked with Roxas and presidential contenders Poe and Binay on separate occasions regarding their invitations, but he did not mention whether he has committed support to any of the presidential candidates.

“On both counts, I was very transparent to each of them about my talks with the other party. I know exactly what I have committed to do and not to do when I agreed to be adopted by them,” Lacson explained.

Lacson said his talk with Binay came on Monday when they chanced upon each other at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Intramuros, Manila during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).

“I think it is the height of arrogance to decline an invitation to be a guest candidate of any legitimate and serious presidential candidate, not to mention that I consider it a huge privilege to be offered such,” Lacson explained.

“That is also the reason why, when Vice President Binay made a similar request when we saw each other at the Comelec office during the filing of our COCs in the early hours of Oct. 12, I did not decline his invitation as well,” he added.