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By Maricel V. Cruz, Reporter
Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. is
expected to resign from his post as president of the ruling Lakas-Christian
Muslim Democrats before he leaves for the United States next week.
Ray Roquero, executive director of Lakas,
made that revelation on Thursday, noting that a “bloody
confrontation” during the party’s national directorate meeting
on March 3 could be prevented if Venecia would voluntarily resign
before he leaves for a trip abroad on February 26.
“There are already people negotiating
with him, convincing him to just go on leave. That’s a very
good option in order for him to remain in the party,” Roquero said
in an interview.
“But of course, it [indefinite leave]
will be overtaken by time and the party will eventually have to
elect a new president. But at least it won’t be bloody,”
he said.
Roquero said if de Venecia would not
tender his resignation before his trip, a member of the national
directorate may likely stand up during the March 3 convention and
call for a general election.
He said it would only be logical for any
Lakas member to call for a general election since de Venecia has
been in power since 1998 when party elections should be held every
after three years.
“Anyway, some posts have been left
vacant for quite sometime while some members became inactive through
the years so we have to update our membership,” Roquero said.
Besides the voluntary resignation, Roque said
the party is giving de Venecia another option, which is for him to
go on indefinite leave so the group can designate an acting
president.
Official United Nations trip
De Venecia’s counsel, Raul Lambino, confirmed
that the former speaker will be on official trip from February 26
to March 2 to attend a United Nations meeting.
According to Lambino, de Venecia would be
back in time for the Lakas convention but he was
not sure if the latter is attending the meeting.
But Lambino said De Venecia would rather
resign as Lakas president and leave the party as well.
“I don’t see any point why he should
continue to stay with the party considering the present situation
and the way he’s being treated by the Palace,” he said.
De Venecia was unceremoniously removed as
House Speaker on February 4 during a plenary vote, which paved the
way for the election of Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles as the new
leader of the chamber.
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