MANILA - Former Senator Sergio 'Serge' Osmeña said he would only return to the Liberal Party's (LP) senatorial slate if the party kicks out former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto."No. My condition stands. If Ralph's in or anybody with that profile, then I'm out of the [LP] ticket," Osmeña told ANC's On The Scene on Thursday, confirming earlier reports on why he bolted the LP's senatorial line-up. (Read: Osmeña bolts LP senatorial ticket)
Osmeña, a member of the PDP-Laban, said he knew about the talks between LP and Recto before it was officially announced, and he made it clear to party leaders that he would leave its senatorial slate and run as an independent if Recto was taken in.
He said Recto's inclusion in the LP's senatorial slate was one of the demands of Vilma Santos before agreeing to become the party's gubernatorial bet in Batangas.
"It was a package deal. They wanted Vilma to be their gubernatorial candidate in Batangas... I think everybody knows that you can't be purist, but in this particular case, unfortunately, Vilma has a husband who wants to be a senator and made it one of her conditions," he said.
Recto, in a statement released Thursday, insisted that he and Santos were invited by the LP.
“Unang-una, kami ang inimbitahan ng LP at hindi kami ang nag-apply,” he said.
He added that he has a clean record as a public official and has never allowed his party affiliation to get in the way of his principles.
Recto lost in the 2007 senatorial elections under the Team Unity coalition. He was appointed head of the state economic planning agency, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), by President Arroyo in 2008, and resigned the post last August to pursue another run for the Senate.
Osmeña said that when he learned about the negotiations between Recto and LP stalwart former Senator Franklin Drilon, he immediately made it clear that, "If Ralph is in, I'm out."
He said LP leaders told him that they did not think he was serious, and the LP eventually decided to include Recto in the senatorial slate.
Osmeña said he was against Recto's inclusion in the LP senatorial slate because it he "does not fit the image of what we want him (Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III) to project to the nation, to show goodwill in bringing about politics and decency in government."
Won't campaign for any candidate if...
The former senator said he has given the LP a chance to negotiate with him to resolve the rift. He said he made a promise to Aquino that he would be open for last-minute talks before finally announcing his resignation from the LP senatorial slate.
He said the meeting between him and Aquino would happen during the weekend. He said he would make a formal announcement on Monday.
Osmeña said if he finally decides to leave the LP ticket, he would stop supporting Aquino or any other presidential candidate.
"My position from now on, I'm going to be a people's watchdog. I will not allow myself [to be allied] with any group," he said.
He clarified that he was not "out to hurt" Aquino or the LP as a party.
"I'm out because my conscience says that my position within the group has become untenable because of the decisions that they have made," he said.
Osmeña, meanwhile, said that several presidential candidates have also asked him to join their senatorial tickets, but he has turned them all down.
He is confident he can win as an independent given his experience in politics.
as of 11/19/2009 7:19 PM
Source: http://abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/19/09/osme%C3%B1-lp-if-ralphs-im-out
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