Atienza: LP behind rule of law

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, the Liberal Party (LP) national chairman, gave his assurance that the party leadership remains steadfast in its adherence to the rule of law.

Atienza issued a clarification as he denied that LP leaders are turncoats, referring to the conflicting positions taken by some of his partymates on the raging debate on the impeachment case against President Arroyo.

"I believe that LP members will stand on their convictions that they have judged the impeachment issue with principles guided by the rule of law and national interests," Atienza said.

He described the nine LP congressmen’s signatures on the impeachment complaint as a "sad reflection" of the July 8 move by Senate President Franklin Drilon to railroad what claims to be a party decision when it was not.

He added, however, that 23 LP members who did not sign the impeachment complaint are "still on the side of the rule of law and will not be stampeded."

Mayor Atienza also wanted to correct the distortion of values to describe signatories as patriots when, in fact, the reality is that those who did not sign want stability, continuity and normalcy under the rule of law and not be influenced by their emotions and Messianic complexes.

Reacting to Manila Rep. Rodolfo Bacani’s signing for impeachment, Atienza advised him to allow the procedure to take its own course.

The mayor was disappointed to see a political ally go astray, but admonishes him not to cause further "ripples" in Manila’s political bickerings as Manilans would want to go on with their normal lives.

He also advised partymates in Congress not to resign from LP and resist pressures from the nine pro-impeachment congressmen led by Tarlac Rep. Noynoy Aquino for them to endorse the impeachment complaint.