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By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
Members of the ruling political party, Lakas-Christian
Muslim Democrats, are expected to remove former House Speaker Jose
de Venecia Jr. as party president when its National Directorate
meets today.
Speaker Prospero Nograles, who succeeded de
Venecia at the House of Representatives, is poised to replace him as
party president.
Parañaque City Rep. Eduardo Zialcita and
Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella said the move to make Nograles
the president is aimed at keeping the party intact. A united Lakas
could be a political powerhouse in the 2010 national elections.
They conceded that the move to oust de Venecia
from his party post will be crucial, but said they are hoping for a
“smooth” transition.
Some lawmakers who were reluctant to remove de
Venecia are now reportedly supporting Nograles—for the sake of
party unity. There were concerns that most of Lakas members will
quit and join the party founded by President Gloria Arroyo, the
Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), if de Venecia remains as
head of Lakas.
“We believe in his [Nograles’s] good
leadership,” Zialcita said. “He has already been elected as
speaker of the House by a 175-vote where majority of Lakas leaders
supported him.”
Puentevella said Nograles has most of the Lakas
members behind him.
“I believe that’s the win-win solution for
us to be able to resolve the internal problems in the party, and to
move on,” Puentevella said.
On Friday, de Venecia said he will not accept
the position as Lakas president emeritus, a compromise presented by
former President Fidel Ramos. De Venecia reportedly vowed to stay
with Lakas, dismissing speculations that he will join the
opposition.
Merger with Kampi
Another agenda item on the National Directorate
meeting today is the possible merger of Lakas and Kampi, a move to
consolidate pro-administration forces ahead of the 2010 elections.
Three initiatives need to pass for the merger to
materialize, a source told The Manila Times. First, all seats have
to be declared vacant to give way for a new set of officers to take
over the party.
Second, the party’s present constitution has
to be amended so as to empower the National Directorate to elect new
officers, and last is the affirmation of support for President
Gloria Arroyo.
“Declaring all seats vacant is to formalize
the nomination of Speaker Nograles as the new president of the party
who is unopposed,” the source said.
“But the merger will take place after the new
set of officers is elected to their new positions. Most of the
officers will retain their seats except for former Speaker de
Venecia who already conceded and claimed to be the conscience of the
party,” he added.
Lakas spokesman Ray Roquero said invitations
have been sent out to nearly 300 members of the National
Directorate, and those expected to attend include Mayor Sonny
Belmonte of Quezon City, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita and President Arroyo, the party
chairperson.
“The merger will re-align political forces,
and eliminate the obstacles for putting up a common candidate in
many congressional, provincial and local areas instead of several
administration bets fighting each other,” said Mayor Ramon Guico
of Binalonan, Pangasinan.
Lakas won overwhelmingly in the local elections
and congressional contests, but most of its senatorial candidates
lost in 2007.
-- With Sammy Martin
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