'Sensing' defeat in 2010 polls, allies leave Arroyo's party

SOPHIA M. DEDACE, GMANews.TV
11/08/2009 | 11:16 AM


Probably sensing that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and imminent administration presidential bet Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. would not be potent forces in the 2010 elections, members of ruling party Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD started shifting allegiances to rival parties.

According to a political analyst, the move is expected to firm up the presidential bid of Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and Senator Manuel Villar Jr. of the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party (NP), where Lakas members transferred.

Ramon Casiple, head of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, said that administration members did not want to be associated with an associated with an unpopular president and an administration bet that is lagging behind in ratings of most preferred presidential aspirants.

“Si Gibo (Gilberto Teodoro) di tumataas ang ratings. Kaya ang mga taga-Lakas-Kampi, hahanap ng oposisyon. Si Gloria mismo, ayaw ma-identify sa kaniya. Kaya walang gustong tumkabo (sa ilalim ng Lakas) kahit sa ground level. Walang value (na) added kay Gibo," Casiple said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

Last Saturday, the Liberal Party said it has sworn in about 125 local officials and other key administration allies that have left Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

These include Alaminos, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza, Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Pi ñol Jr., Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong" Maliksi, the Osmena clan of Cebu, and Cesar Montano – the actor who ran for senator in the 2007 elections under the administration party, but lost.

Villar’s Nacionalista Party, for its part, included in its roster the following former Lakas members: Governors Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Rogelio Espina (Biliran), Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), and Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte).

It was also reported on Sunday that some 240 local officials from various provinces across the country has also ditched the administration coalition in favor of NP.


Aquino vs. Villar

In Sunday’s phone interview, Casiple said the mass exodus of Lakas-Kampi-CMD members is expected to change the political landscape in favor of Aquino and Villar, who had been frontrunners in surveys of most preferred presidential aspirants.

“I think it will be a head-to-head between Noynoy and Villar. Sa ngayon, lumilitaw na sila ang nagha-harvest nitong mga umaalis sa Lakas," Casiple said.

He added that the weak political party system in the Philippines also made it easier for officials to shift loyalties from one party to another. “Walang genuine political party system. Ang daling mag-balimbing," Casiple said.


Kiss of death?

Last Saturday, the Philippine Star quoted Pampanga first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin as saying that the the President hinted at resigning as Lakas-Kampi-CMD president to dissociate Teodoro from the negative attitude toward Mrs. Arroyo.

“She said she felt she was not contributing positively to the candidacy of Teodoro so it would be better for her to resign and give way to younger leaders," Lazatin said.

Casiple said it Lakas-Kampi-CMD members who left the administration coalition know that being associated with the President and Teodoro could spell their political careers’ end. “Wala namang maitutulong si Gibo (Teodoro would make no contribution at all,’ Casiple said.

Teodoro is set to relinquish his post as Defense Secretary on November 16, four days before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacies from November 20 to December 1.

Malacanang on Sunday said it has already replaced Cabinet members who resigned from their posts so they can run in the 2010 elections.

Among those who had resigned and were replaced were Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (Public Works, replaced with Victor Domingo); Avelino Razon Jr.

(presidential peace process adviser, replaced with Annabelle Abaya); Ralph Recto (National Economic and Development Authority, replaced with Augusto Santos); and Eduardo Manzano (Optical Media Board Chairman, replaced with Ronnie Ricketts).

Ebdane earlier declared his intent to run for president while Razon is running for Manila mayor. Recto and Manzano are running for senatorial posts. On the other hand, Secretary Angelo Reyes (Energy) is reportedly running for Taguig City mayor. - GMANews.TV


Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176529/sensing-defeat-in-2010-polls-allies-leave-arroyos-party