PNoy to swear in new Liberal Party members

BACOLOD CITy, Philippines —President Benigno Aquino III is arriving in Negros Occidental tomorrow to swear in new members of the Liberal Party and to grace the party’s provincial convention.

LP provincial chairman and 3rd district Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez told The Freeman yesterday that Aquino has confirmed his attendance tomorrow at the convention, which starts today at Nature’s Village Resort and Hotel in Talisay City.

Aquino, who is the LP chairman, is set to swear in at least 12 Negros Occidental mayors, and several vice mayors and councilors, Benitez said.

He said all the 12 mayors who will take oath as new LP members are from the Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) party.  

Benitez said other LP stalwarts who are also gracing the convention tomorrow are LP president and Transportation and Communication Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II; Senator Franklin Drilon, LP vice chairman; Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, LP executive vice president, and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III.

Sagay Councilor Bubbles Tolentino of the LP Secretariat said that LP director-general Ma. Gladys Sta. Rita, Assistant Secretary Rolando Cucio of the Office of Political Affairs, NIPS Executive Director Lambert Ramirez, and Board Member Henry Bacurnay Jr. are also attending the convention.

Bacurnay, who is the national president of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines, will lead the Basic Orientation on Liberal Democracy.

Among the 12 mayors joining LP are Mayors Marxlen De la Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto, Leo Rafael Cueva—Sagay City, Patrick Escalante—Cadiz City, Ma. Lourdes Escalante—Manapla, Eric Saratan—Talisay City, Francisco Nazareno—Moises Padilla, Francisco Malabor—Isabela, Alberto Nicor Jr.—La Castellana, and Jechonias Manzano—Candoni.

There are 32 mayors in Negros Occidental, most of them belong to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Although the LP and NPC have a coalition on the national level, Benitez said none of the mayors from the NPC are transferring to LP yet.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who heads the NPC in Negros Occidental, supported Aquino in the 2010 elections. Maranon also heads the United Negros Alliance (UNA), a local coalition of LP, NPC and other major parties, whose members are majority incumbent officials.

The governor said if he is invited to the LP convention, he will attend since the LP, NPC and UNA have an existing alliance in Negros Occidental.

Benitez said the convention is aimed at strengthening LP in Negros Occidental as he expressed optimism that more local officials will join their party.—/FPL (FREEMAN)