AN official of the Lakas-Kampi CMD yesterday confirmed defections local level members to other parties and the administration party expects more in the coming days.However, Lakas-Kampi is confident the defections will not affect the chances of administration candidates in the May 2010 elections.
"True, there have been defections among local officials and there may even be more. But these are natural and expected consequences of party intramurals and fall-outs from the party’s selection process for local candidates. Those not chosen or will imminently not be chosen will naturally seek shelter with other political parties or other presidential bets," said Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs and Lakas-Kampi secretary general.
Claudio said the defections even helped resolve possible conflicts at the local level, arising from having many candidates for one position.
He said the defections also helped Lakas-Kampi shed off "excess weight," enabling the administration party to enter the political arena with its "leaner, meaner and best fighting form."
"It’s what you might call arbitration by attrition... The positive result of these defections is that the administration party will have single, solid and formidable lineup of candidates at the local level, who will not be distracted by internal conflicts and therefore better able to concentrate on helping the administration’s national candidates win in their respective areas," he said.
Lakas-Kampi members have been reported to have joined the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manny Villar Jr. and the Liberal Party of Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Administration allies who have been supportive of President Arroyo and her programs have also joined other parties instead of the Lakas-Kampi, like Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi.
Lim, who resigned from the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino after former President Joseph Estrada announced Lim’s resignation in a forum, and Maliksi have joined the LP.
An election lawyer for the opposition said the issue of whether President Arroyo should resign after filing her certificate of candidacy is more of a moral issue rather than a legal one.
Arroyo is reportedly planning to seek a House seat representing her hometown in the second district of Pampanga.
Sixto Brillantes said he does not find any legal impediment for Arroyo to continue serving as president while running for the House seat.
"I think, it is more on whether it is ethical for her to run without resigning rather than it is illegal for her to run while still being the president," he said.
Referring to R.A. 9006 or the Fair Election Act, Brillantes said "anybody who runs for another office is not considered resigned… therefore, she can run for any other post without resigning from the presidency."
Election laws state that only appointed officials are deemed resigned upon filing their COCs.
Brillantes asked the public to be vigilant.
He said while Arroyo could not be held accountable for not resigning while running for another public office, she could be sued for illegal use of public funds, if she uses public money for her campaign.
He cited as an example the possibility of Arroyo using Malacañang facilities such as the presidential car while campaigning in Pampanga or the use of the national budget allocated to other things for her sorties. – With Gerard Naval
Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/11092009/news4.html
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