PHNO-HL; LIBERAL PARTY WOOS ANTI-GMA POLITICOS

LIBERAL PARTY WOOS ANTI-GMA POLITICOS


[PHOTO - RESIGNED SENATOR MIGZ
ZUBIRI]
MANILA, JUNE 19, 2012 (MALAYA)
Written by WENDELL VIGILIA - Takes cue from Koko's
apathy towards Zubiri
POSSIBLE aspirants of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) who are against
the entry of perceived allies of former president Gloria Arroyo in the slate are
welcome to join the Liberal Party slate, according to an LP stalwart.
The source, who asked not to be named, said the entry in UNA of candidates
like Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros "Mitos" Magsaysay, resigned senator Juan Miguel
Zubiri, and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia would prompt other coalition members to
transfer to the LP slate.
"The latest development in UNA would boost our bid to convince strong
senatorial candidates to join LP because they do not want to be associated or
share the stage with the allies of Mrs. Arroyo," the source said.
UNA is a coalition of former president Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang
Pilipino (PMP) and Vice President Jejomar Binay's PDP-Laban.
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, is strongly opposing
Zubiri's inclusion in the UNA slate. He has been saying Zubiri benefited from
the alleged cheating in the 2007 polls, which robbed him of the Senate seat.

Pimentel took his seat as senator in August last year after Zubiri resigned.
Zubiri's resignation came days before the Senate Electoral Tribunal declared
that it was Pimentel who won the 12th Senate seat in the 2007 polls.
On Tuesday last week, Pimentel hinted he would leave UNA. Days later, he said
he had acceded to Zubiri's request to stop calling the resigned senator an
"election cheat."
The source said the LP has decided to build its senatorial slate from the
following: Technical and Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel
Villanueva; Representatives Sonny Angara and Erin Tañada; former Representatives
Risa Hontiveros and Cynthia Villar; Justice Secretary Leila de Lima; Senators
Antonio Trillanes, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, and
Gregorio Honasan; former Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers; Customs
Commissioner Ruffy Biazon; and former senators Ramon Magsaysay and Jamby
Madrigal.
Angara is a member of the LDP. Cayetano, Villar and Barbers belong to the
Nacionalista Party and Legarda, to the Nationalist People's Coalition.
The source said the LP will form a coalition with other political parties
without candidates having to officially join the ruling party.
Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., secretary general of LP,
confirmed that the ruling party is already choosing the members of its
senatorial slate.
"They thought that we don't have candidates, but our bets are overflowing. We
will make an announcement very soon," he said.
Villanueva said he would make a decision on whether to seek a Senate seat in
two or three months.
Earlier, Villanueva said he was torn between running for the Senate and
continuing what he has begun at TESDA, especially after Malacañang approved the
National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan which provides the
framework for technical-vocational education in the country up to 2016.
Villanueva also said he would consult his family, friends and his party-list
group, the Citizens Battle against Corruption, before making any decision.
– With Ashzel Hachero


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE


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