Philstar.com
August 27,2009
MANILA, Philippines - Former Senate president Jovito Salonga wants the Liberal Party (LP) to hold a convention to choose the party’s standard-bearer in next year’s presidential race.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, the 89-year-old LP chairman emeritus said the choice between Senators Manuel Roxas II and Benigno Aquino III should go through the process to unify the LP.
“I feel there will be true unity in the LP if we discuss this thoroughly within the party,” he said.
Salonga said the declaration of Roxas of “no turning back” on his presidential candidacy is a “politician’s statement.”
“There’s no way for a politician to say otherwise,” he said. “All of their statements are subject to qualification.”
Salonga also described Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s plan to run for vice-president under the LP banner as “no obstacle whatsoever.”
“That is his desire to run as vice president,” he said.
Previously, Salonga said he “prefers” a Roxas-Aquino tandem rather than the other way around.
Aquino is “not yet ripe” for the presidency, he added.
On the other hand, LP stalwarts at the House of Representatives are rallying behind Aquino.
They took up the cudgels for Aquino whom Malacañang challenged to be “his own man,” rather than bask in the glory of his famous parents.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali reminded deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar that Aquino’s reluctance to “seek higher office” is enough proof that he is not attracted to the perks attached to the presidency.
“They have nothing to worry about, Noynoy is very different from them, especially in integrity and credibility.”
Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, LP spokesman and head of the House LP bloc, said it is expected of Malacañang to react that way because Aquino is trusted by the people.
“Admittedly, Noynoy is a force to reckon with in politics because he symbolizes what his parents stood and fought for,” he said.
“It is expected that Noynoy will continue what his parents began and not let the name of his parents be tarnished.”
Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., LP secretary-general, said Olivar was missing the whole point when he dared Aquino to be his own man if he is indeed serious in seeking higher office.
“Noynoy has no other choice but to live up to what his parents fought and stood for,” he said.
“And generally, I think Filipinos would want that. Cory and Ninoy are not bad people. It is Noynoy’s moral responsibility to continue their fight.”
Abaya said Olivar is probably getting back at Aquino after he rejected Malacañang’s plan to construct a monument for his mother, President Corazon Aquino at Rizal Park in Manila.
Meantime, Tañada denied reports that the LP is “torn” between Roxas and Aquino, and that they could not decide on who will be the standard-bearer and his running mate.
“Right now everything is still speculative because Noynoy has not declared his intention to run for any of the top two positions,” he said in a text message.
“If Noynoy decides to run for vice president as proposed by former Senate president Salonga, a Mar-Noynoy ticket would be a strong ticket.
“If Noynoy decides to run also for president like Mar, then the choice of president and vice president will be made in accordance with the provisions outlined in the LP constitution.
“It will be decided by the membership of the LP in a convention.”
Atienza wing goes to court
The LP wing of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza asked the Supreme Court yesterday to void a resolution of the Commission on Elections upholding the election of Sen. Manuel Roxas II as president of the 53-year-old political party.
Roxas was elected during the LP national executive council meeting at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 26, 2007.
Atienza and his supporters also asked the SC to stop Roxas and his officials from discharging their powers and function, and Roxas from designating more LP officials.
The petitioners accused the Comelec of “grave abuse of discretion” in upholding the election of Roxas despite the “patent irregularities which attended the assembly.”
“The validity or invalidity of respondent Roxas’ ascension to the LP leadership therefore necessarily rests on the legality of the proceedings conducted by the LP’s special body called the NECO, on Nov. 26, 2007 and the legality or illegality of the proceedings by that ‘special body,’ in turn, depends on the legitimacy of the composition of the members of that NECO,” read the petition.
“And there can be no determination of who the legitimate NECO members are without directly addressing the questions of the validity of the expulsion of key party members belonging to the Atienza faction.”
The petitioners said the Comelec should have ruled on whether the expulsion of Atienza and his allies from the party was valid.
“The Comelec arbitrarily refused to consider that the validity of the expulsion of Atienza and four others from the LP involves violation of the constitutionally-enshrined right to due process and is not a simple issue of party discipline,” read the petition.
Represented by counsels Harlin Abayon and Luis Aseoche, the Atienza wing said the composition of the executive council when
Roxas was elected as president was “void and of no effect” due to questions.
“They themselves had eschewed basic democratic principles such as due process and fair play in booting out these five members led by Atienza from the party without giving them a forum to explain their side,” read the petition.
Members of the Atienza wing that sought the relief were Representatives Matias Defensor Jr. of Quezon City, Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro, Danilo Suarez of Quezon province and Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao; Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, former Northern Samar lawmaker Harlin Abayon, Liberal Local Legislators’ League national chairman Melvin Macusi, and former LP director general Eleazar Quinto.
Drilon assails Atienza petition
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon assailed yesterday the Atienza wing’s petition before the Supreme Court as “pathetic and legally feeble.”
“Secretary Atienza is a lackey of Malacañang,” he said.
“He cannot speak in behalf of the LP as both the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections have sustained his expulsion (from the LP).
“In fact, there are reports that he is now negotiating with former President Joseph Estrada for him to run for Manila mayor in the 2010 polls under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.”
Drilon said in July 2007, the SC threw out a similar petition of Atienza and upheld the legitimacy of his election as LP president.
“In doing so, the High Court upheld the decision of the LP National Political Council to expel Atienza and four other LP officials for ‘acts inimical to the party’ on March 17, 2006,” he said.
“During the 2007 midterm elections, the Comelec authorized me, as LP president, to sign certificates of candidacy of LP candidates as the party was recognized as the dominant minority party. Atienza and his cohorts filed their candidacies under the pro-administration Lakas and Kampi parties.”
In June 2009, the Comelec dismissed another petition of Atienza questioning the legitimacy of the election of Roxas II as LP president for lack of merit, Drilon said.
Meanwhile, Comelec chairman Jose Melo refused to comment yesterday on the petition of the Atienza wing before the Supreme Court.
“It’s up to the Supreme Court to decide,” he said. — With Edu Punay, Aurea Calica, Sheila Crisostomo - By Delon Porcalla
August 27,2009
MANILA, Philippines - Former Senate president Jovito Salonga wants the Liberal Party (LP) to hold a convention to choose the party’s standard-bearer in next year’s presidential race.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, the 89-year-old LP chairman emeritus said the choice between Senators Manuel Roxas II and Benigno Aquino III should go through the process to unify the LP.
“I feel there will be true unity in the LP if we discuss this thoroughly within the party,” he said.
Salonga said the declaration of Roxas of “no turning back” on his presidential candidacy is a “politician’s statement.”
“There’s no way for a politician to say otherwise,” he said. “All of their statements are subject to qualification.”
Salonga also described Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s plan to run for vice-president under the LP banner as “no obstacle whatsoever.”
“That is his desire to run as vice president,” he said.
Previously, Salonga said he “prefers” a Roxas-Aquino tandem rather than the other way around.
Aquino is “not yet ripe” for the presidency, he added.
On the other hand, LP stalwarts at the House of Representatives are rallying behind Aquino.
They took up the cudgels for Aquino whom Malacañang challenged to be “his own man,” rather than bask in the glory of his famous parents.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali reminded deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar that Aquino’s reluctance to “seek higher office” is enough proof that he is not attracted to the perks attached to the presidency.
“They have nothing to worry about, Noynoy is very different from them, especially in integrity and credibility.”
Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, LP spokesman and head of the House LP bloc, said it is expected of Malacañang to react that way because Aquino is trusted by the people.
“Admittedly, Noynoy is a force to reckon with in politics because he symbolizes what his parents stood and fought for,” he said.
“It is expected that Noynoy will continue what his parents began and not let the name of his parents be tarnished.”
Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., LP secretary-general, said Olivar was missing the whole point when he dared Aquino to be his own man if he is indeed serious in seeking higher office.
“Noynoy has no other choice but to live up to what his parents fought and stood for,” he said.
“And generally, I think Filipinos would want that. Cory and Ninoy are not bad people. It is Noynoy’s moral responsibility to continue their fight.”
Abaya said Olivar is probably getting back at Aquino after he rejected Malacañang’s plan to construct a monument for his mother, President Corazon Aquino at Rizal Park in Manila.
Meantime, Tañada denied reports that the LP is “torn” between Roxas and Aquino, and that they could not decide on who will be the standard-bearer and his running mate.
“Right now everything is still speculative because Noynoy has not declared his intention to run for any of the top two positions,” he said in a text message.
“If Noynoy decides to run for vice president as proposed by former Senate president Salonga, a Mar-Noynoy ticket would be a strong ticket.
“If Noynoy decides to run also for president like Mar, then the choice of president and vice president will be made in accordance with the provisions outlined in the LP constitution.
“It will be decided by the membership of the LP in a convention.”
Atienza wing goes to court
The LP wing of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza asked the Supreme Court yesterday to void a resolution of the Commission on Elections upholding the election of Sen. Manuel Roxas II as president of the 53-year-old political party.
Roxas was elected during the LP national executive council meeting at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 26, 2007.
Atienza and his supporters also asked the SC to stop Roxas and his officials from discharging their powers and function, and Roxas from designating more LP officials.
The petitioners accused the Comelec of “grave abuse of discretion” in upholding the election of Roxas despite the “patent irregularities which attended the assembly.”
“The validity or invalidity of respondent Roxas’ ascension to the LP leadership therefore necessarily rests on the legality of the proceedings conducted by the LP’s special body called the NECO, on Nov. 26, 2007 and the legality or illegality of the proceedings by that ‘special body,’ in turn, depends on the legitimacy of the composition of the members of that NECO,” read the petition.
“And there can be no determination of who the legitimate NECO members are without directly addressing the questions of the validity of the expulsion of key party members belonging to the Atienza faction.”
The petitioners said the Comelec should have ruled on whether the expulsion of Atienza and his allies from the party was valid.
“The Comelec arbitrarily refused to consider that the validity of the expulsion of Atienza and four others from the LP involves violation of the constitutionally-enshrined right to due process and is not a simple issue of party discipline,” read the petition.
Represented by counsels Harlin Abayon and Luis Aseoche, the Atienza wing said the composition of the executive council when
Roxas was elected as president was “void and of no effect” due to questions.
“They themselves had eschewed basic democratic principles such as due process and fair play in booting out these five members led by Atienza from the party without giving them a forum to explain their side,” read the petition.
Members of the Atienza wing that sought the relief were Representatives Matias Defensor Jr. of Quezon City, Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro, Danilo Suarez of Quezon province and Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao; Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, former Northern Samar lawmaker Harlin Abayon, Liberal Local Legislators’ League national chairman Melvin Macusi, and former LP director general Eleazar Quinto.
Drilon assails Atienza petition
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon assailed yesterday the Atienza wing’s petition before the Supreme Court as “pathetic and legally feeble.”
“Secretary Atienza is a lackey of Malacañang,” he said.
“He cannot speak in behalf of the LP as both the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections have sustained his expulsion (from the LP).
“In fact, there are reports that he is now negotiating with former President Joseph Estrada for him to run for Manila mayor in the 2010 polls under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.”
Drilon said in July 2007, the SC threw out a similar petition of Atienza and upheld the legitimacy of his election as LP president.
“In doing so, the High Court upheld the decision of the LP National Political Council to expel Atienza and four other LP officials for ‘acts inimical to the party’ on March 17, 2006,” he said.
“During the 2007 midterm elections, the Comelec authorized me, as LP president, to sign certificates of candidacy of LP candidates as the party was recognized as the dominant minority party. Atienza and his cohorts filed their candidacies under the pro-administration Lakas and Kampi parties.”
In June 2009, the Comelec dismissed another petition of Atienza questioning the legitimacy of the election of Roxas II as LP president for lack of merit, Drilon said.
Meanwhile, Comelec chairman Jose Melo refused to comment yesterday on the petition of the Atienza wing before the Supreme Court.
“It’s up to the Supreme Court to decide,” he said. — With Edu Punay, Aurea Calica, Sheila Crisostomo - By Delon Porcalla