First Posted 02:04:00 11/19/2009
Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Benigno Aquino III, Conflicts (general)
MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III is considering backing out of the Liberal Party (LP) senatorial slate in the May elections over disagreement with the inclusion of defectors from the administration coalition, a party official said.LP campaign manager Florencio Abad confirmed a report by ABS-CBN late Wednesday night that disagreements had arisen over the acceptance into the party of former Sen. Ralph Recto, who recently resigned as director general of the National and Economic Development Authority, and his wife Vilma Santos.
Osmeña, a member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), was one of the senatorial candidates announced by the LP on Monday, along with Recto, who ran for reelection in 2007 under the administration party and lost.
ABS-CBN said that Osmeña did not wish to be part of a slate that would endorse a former member of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.
“We are trying to look into these reservations and find a way to reconcile differences,” Abad said in a phone interview. He said that party officials understood Osmeña’s concerns and “we will find a way to keep him within the coalition.”
He said that the party valued Osmeña and the help he had extended in the presidential campaign of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. He said that as far as he was concerned, Osmeña was still in the LP senatorial slate.
“We will exhaust all means to keep him within the coalition and at this point, we have not given up on him,” Abad said. “In the end, it still Osmeña’s decision which we can only respect.”
The Philippine Daily Inquirer tried but failed to reach Osmeña.
Sen. Edgardo Angara Wednesday said that the LP was experiencing difficulties because of its “top heavy leadership” torn by infighting.
Angara said that Aquino had no experience in organizing and that there were several powerful factions in his camp, including the Cojuangcos, the Aquinos, the Aranetas and civil society groups, such as the Black and White Movement.
“A strong leader can withstand that factional infighting. If you are a weak leader, you will be eaten up by everyone,” said Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino that is looking for a presidential candidate to support. Christine O. Avendaño
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091119-237128/Alls-not-well-in-Aquino-camp
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