Defections continue to hit ranks of administration party

By BEN ROSARIO
November 7, 2009, 7:40pm


Defections hit the Lakas-Kampi-CMD as the ruling party’s top leadership failed to patch up controversies among leaders of the merged parties who were expected to slug it out in the 2010 elections.

Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani and North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Piñol Jr. joined the Liberal Party while five mayors from Batangas, an LKC bailiwick, led 50 vice mayors and councilors in taking their oath of membership with the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

At the mass oath taking ceremonies held in the NPC headquarters in Quezon City, party president Frisco San Juan also appointed lawyer Raymond Apita, a civic leader and human rights advocate, to form a formidable team of local candidates in Eastern Samar.

Earlier, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, a key administration ally in Mindanao, also bolted LKC as he prepared to make another bid for governorship.

The Piñol brothers’ decision to abandon the merged LKC was reportedly triggered by the insistence of Local Water Utilities Authority chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. to push for the candidacy of his protégé, a newcomer in North Cotabato politics, to the congressional seat being held by Representative Pinol.

The elder Pinol accompanied his congressman brother who took his oath of membership before Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, LP’s preferred presidential bet.

Pichay headed LKC’s arbitration panel that was tasked to resolve controversies that affected original members of the merged Lakas-CMD and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino who were expected to clash in the 2010 local elections.

Agbayani will attempt to recapture his post as Pangasinan governor, now occupied by incumbent Gov. Amado Espino.

The NPC made a dent at the supposed Batangas territory of LKC president and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita with the membership of some 60 local officials in the province.

Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza led ten mayors and vice mayors from the province’s fourth district during the mass oath taking ceremonies on Friday.


Source: http://mb.com.ph/node/228449/defection