LP, NP eyeing coalition - Malaya 06.24.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
THE Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party, the two dominant parties from Independence in 1945 to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, are in exploratory talks for a coalition in the 2007 elections.
Senate sources said backchannel talks started after Senate President Franklin Drilon agreed to yield his post to Sen. Manuel Villar in July as part of a term-sharing arrangement.
Drilon is president of LP while Villar heads the NP.
"Mukhang 2007 is the year of two-letter parties coalescing together," one of the sources said.
Sources said the initiative came from young members of the two parties.
Senatorial and congressional seats are up for grabs in the 2007 elections, which political analaysts say would serve as a "referendum" on the administration of President Arroyo.
Sources said a LP-NP coalition would be reminiscent of the Lakas-Laban coalition that was forged between former President Fidel Ramos, Lakas chairman, and Sen. Edgardo Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino during the mid-term 1994 elections. The Lakas-Laban coalition nearly swept all the posts at stake in those elections.
"They took the cue from Drilon who decided to give away his post without a fight. They thought such display of cooperation and statesmanship could extend up to next year’s elections," a source said.
Senate sources said the fly in the ointment is the presidential ambition of Villar and Sen. Mar Roxas, namesake of his grandfather and LP founder President Manuel Roxas.
"Drilon would welcome a coalition (with NP) but Mar might pose some reservations," one of the sources said.
Tarlac Rep. Noynoy Aquino, LP vice-chairman, said talks of coalition were premature.
"Still early to say but we have good friends from their camp," Aquino said. "There are initial and informal moves but there are pressing and urgent matters (to attend to) today."
An NP legislator who declined to be named said: "The feeling is mutual."
The LP will most likely field Aquino, resigned Education Secretary Florencio Abad and re-electionist majority leader Sen. Kiko Pangilinan as senatorial candidates while NP senatorial line-up will be bannered by Villar, Representatives Gilbert Remulla of Cavite and Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig.
Cayetano’s sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, is aligned with NP.
When asked what he thinks about linking up with the LP, Remulla said: "Ask my boss (Villar)."
During the 2001 elections, LP was part of the administration coalition People Power Coalition. In the last 2004 polls, it again partnered with the pro-administration coalition K-4.
In July last year, LP severed its ties with Malacanang over the "Hello, Garci" tapes.
NP is undergoing a revival after Villar took over the party helm following the death two years ago of former Vice President Salvador Laurel.
THE Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party, the two dominant parties from Independence in 1945 to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, are in exploratory talks for a coalition in the 2007 elections.
Senate sources said backchannel talks started after Senate President Franklin Drilon agreed to yield his post to Sen. Manuel Villar in July as part of a term-sharing arrangement.
Drilon is president of LP while Villar heads the NP.
"Mukhang 2007 is the year of two-letter parties coalescing together," one of the sources said.
Sources said the initiative came from young members of the two parties.
Senatorial and congressional seats are up for grabs in the 2007 elections, which political analaysts say would serve as a "referendum" on the administration of President Arroyo.
Sources said a LP-NP coalition would be reminiscent of the Lakas-Laban coalition that was forged between former President Fidel Ramos, Lakas chairman, and Sen. Edgardo Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino during the mid-term 1994 elections. The Lakas-Laban coalition nearly swept all the posts at stake in those elections.
"They took the cue from Drilon who decided to give away his post without a fight. They thought such display of cooperation and statesmanship could extend up to next year’s elections," a source said.
Senate sources said the fly in the ointment is the presidential ambition of Villar and Sen. Mar Roxas, namesake of his grandfather and LP founder President Manuel Roxas.
"Drilon would welcome a coalition (with NP) but Mar might pose some reservations," one of the sources said.
Tarlac Rep. Noynoy Aquino, LP vice-chairman, said talks of coalition were premature.
"Still early to say but we have good friends from their camp," Aquino said. "There are initial and informal moves but there are pressing and urgent matters (to attend to) today."
An NP legislator who declined to be named said: "The feeling is mutual."
The LP will most likely field Aquino, resigned Education Secretary Florencio Abad and re-electionist majority leader Sen. Kiko Pangilinan as senatorial candidates while NP senatorial line-up will be bannered by Villar, Representatives Gilbert Remulla of Cavite and Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig.
Cayetano’s sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, is aligned with NP.
When asked what he thinks about linking up with the LP, Remulla said: "Ask my boss (Villar)."
During the 2001 elections, LP was part of the administration coalition People Power Coalition. In the last 2004 polls, it again partnered with the pro-administration coalition K-4.
In July last year, LP severed its ties with Malacanang over the "Hello, Garci" tapes.
NP is undergoing a revival after Villar took over the party helm following the death two years ago of former Vice President Salvador Laurel.
posted by brodkaster43 at Sabado, Hunyo 24, 2006
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