Maliksi defection due to Palace pressure: Roxas - Malaya 07.11.2006

SEN. Mar Roxas yesterday blamed pressure from Malacañang for the surprise defection of Cavite Gov. Ireneo "Ayong" Maliksi from the Liberal Party (LP) faction of Senate President Franklin Drilon to that of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s.

"We understand the pressures on Gov. Maliksi. I do not begrudge him for his decision," Roxas, an LP stalwart, said.

Roxas declined to say what kind of pressure was exerted on Maliksi, but did not deny that it had to do with Maliksi’s graft case pending before the Ombudsman. "I’m sure that your intrepid and conscientious legwork as journalists would have uncovered that fact. I need not repeat that," he said.

Maliksi is facing corruption charges for allegedly overpricing the cost of rice purchased by the Cavite government for its constituents. The governor has been ordered suspended but has fought off the order.

Maliksi’s defection was marked by his playing host to the mass oath-taking of some 5,000 new members of the LP faction headed by Atienza at the General Trias convention center over the weekend.

Among those sworn in Atienza were Maliksi’s own supporters.

Maliksi also hosted the convention of the Drilon faction at the same site months ago. During that convention, he professed support for Drilon’s LP.

Roxas said he recognizes only the LP headed by Drilon. He called the LP faction of Atienza as a party of pretenders. "There is only one LP that I recognize, which is the LP headed by its president, Senate President Franklin Drilon. In my mind that is the LP. All others are pretenders," he said.

LP stalwart Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said it was up to the people of Cavite people to judge Maliksi for what he did. "The legitimate LP is still the faction led by Sen. Drilon. This is what is recognized within and without the country," he said. – Dennis Gadil