MALACAÑANG yesterday said former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. will not be stripped of his post as Lakas-CMD president before the Feb. 21 meeting of the party's national directorate.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye gave this assurance after former President Fidel Ramos, Lakas-CMD chairman emeritus, said De Venecia deserves a graceful exit from the ruling party.

"No precipitate action would be taken. The advice of President Ramos carries a lot of weight," Bunye said.

Ed Malay, Ramos' media adviser, said De Venecia could step down on or before Feb. 21 but he must not be rushed into it in recognition of his contributions to the party.

"He knows where he stands. JDV also knows he may have burned his bridges that would render it impossible to restore the impaired relationship with President Arroyo," he said.

De Venecia was ousted last Monday in what he said was Palace retaliation for his support for his son, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, who alleged that the $329 million national broadband project was overpriced.

He was replaced by Prospero Nograles of Davao City.

Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez said many of his colleagues in the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) are against the proposal to merge with Lakas-CMD because the former is already the dominant administration party.

"No, that can't be for it would be like the dilis (anchovy) swallowing the butanding (whale shark)," he said. "Kampi is now bigger than Lakas."

It was Kampi president Rep. Luis Villafuerte and presidential son Mikey Arroyo who orchestrated the ouster of De Venecia,

Alvarez said many Kampi members left Lakas "because they were unhappy with the way things were managed over there."

"Para kaming mga Jews na umalis ng Nazi Germany to avoid persecution. Tapos ngayon pababalikin mo kami doon," he said.

Ramos has said Lakas and Kampi will merge to underscore the "strong" relationship between the two parties.

He said the decision to merge was reached by President Arroyo, Nograles, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Alvarez described the proposed merger as a "shotgun marriage" which would strip the two parties of their identities.

"We should remain as partners and close allies, with each retaining its identity. This beautiful relationship will be destroyed if we will be forced into a shotgun marriage," he said.

Alvarez, who is chair of the House committee on trade, scoffed at proposals to retain Lakas as surviving party in a merger.

"Lakas is hemorrhaging. It is practicing the politics of subtraction while Kampi is practicing the politics of addition," he said.