JDV foresees political chaos
TOUTED LAKAS-KAMPI MERGER
PREPARE for chaos.
Fourth District Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. warned that political mayhem is in the offing if the legality issue on the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) merger which he has questioned before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not settled before November 30, the deadline for the filing of candidacy for the May 2010 election.
“If that remains unresolved by the time the deadline on November 30 comes, that will be a big problem,” said De Venecia, who co-founded the original Lakas-CMD party, together with former President Fidel Ramos and then Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus.
“That Lakas-Kampi merger is the problem of President Arroyo, of (Defense Sec. Gilbert) Teodoro and (Interior and Local Government Sec. Ronaldo) Puno why did they carry out an illegal merger?” De Venecia said in Panagsinan.
Teodoro and Puno have been nominated as Lakas-Kampi standard bearers for president and vice president, respectively in the 2010 elections.
De Venecia likened the merger of the two parties to the merger of two banks to create a bigger bank, but done without the compulsory stockholders’ meeting.
“I am fighting this Lakas- Kampi merger so that the people will know the truth that I am trying to save Lakas-CMD from dying as a political party because of this forcible merger being imposed by President Arroyo,” he said.
LOCAL CONFLICT
De Venecia said the merger poses problems for choosing party standard bearers all the way down to the local government positions.
He cited the example of Gov. Amado Espino Jr,. chairman of Kampi in Pangasinan, and Second District Rep. Victor Agbayani, co-chairman of Lakas in Pangasinan, who both intend to run as governor.
Another example is 1st District Rep. Arthur Celeste (Kampi) who plans to run for mayor of Alaminos City, going against re-electionist Mayor Hernani Braganza (Lakas).
He said the Lakas-CMD constitution provides that mayors, vice mayors, governors, congressmen, and board members, among other members in the entire country must first be consulted and give their approval for any proposed merger, a process that was not undertaken.
If he didn’t act, De Venecia said, Lakas-CMD would be good as dead as a party in spite of Lakas-CMD’s international status having been affiliated with the Christian Democrats International.
Meanwhile, De Venecia said he has nothing against Teodoro whom he helped become defense secretary but his proclamation as Lakas-Kampi presidential standard bearer remains in question until such time the merger is approved by Comelec.
He said the proclamation of Teodoro and Puno is yet another legal battle. #
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