Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

MANILA - The ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) has yet to decide on its choice of standard-bearer for the 2010 presidential elections, contrary to claims it is inclined to draft Senate President Manuel Villar.

"We are a party that adheres to democratic processes. We don't decide based on the say-so of one or two individual members," House Speaker and Lakas-CMD president Prospero Nograles said in a statement.

Nograles was reacting to claims by Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia Jr. that a number of Lakas members want a coalition with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and the Nacionalista Party (NP), which Villar heads.

But Nograles said De Venecia's statement on drafting Villar was not sanctioned by Lakas leaders since the party's policy on choosing candidates is for the decision to come from the "bottom up, not from above."

"Certainly, if Senate President Villar wishes to forge an alliance with us for the purpose of putting up a united front in 2010, then we will seriously consider it, but not to the exclusion of others who may wish to come aboard," Nograles said.

The Lakas is currently forging regional mergers with the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi, Partner of the Free Filipino), the party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for the 2010 polls.

The merger is to avert a repeat of their experience in the May 2007 elections when both parties fielded candidates who ran against each other in several areas, thus dividing the votes.

 

< Prev		Next >