SPEAKER Prospero Nograles believes that the merger of the
ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi)
would draw formidable presidential candidates in the runup to the 2010
elections.
"Instead of a party courting a presidential aspirant, if your
party is very strong, it will be the presidential aspirants courting the support
of the strong party," he said.
Nograles, the new Lakas president, said he and President
Arroyo are concentrating their efforts on forging an alliance with Kampi and
other coalition parties as soon as possible. "If we can do that, then we can
have a very strong administration party in 2010," he said.
Some of those reportedly eyeing the presidency are Senate
President Manuel Villar, Senators Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda and Vice President
Noli de Castro.
Nograles' predecessor, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has
called the merger a "kiss of death" for Lakas. De Venecia claimed some 70
percent of Lakas members would oppose the merger, knowing Kampi is a "party of
the Arroyos" and of "power and money."
De Venecia was ousted as Lakas president on Tuesday and is
now president emeritus, a post created just for him.
Kampi president Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, who was at the forefront
of the campaign to oust De Venecia last February, admitted that it would
difficult to reconcile the differences of the two parties with Kampi aiming to
be the new ruling party. "Until and unless many basic issues are resolved, I
don't think we will get a majority to concur with the proposal," he said.
- Wendell Vigilia
