Nov. 13 and its Implications on the Future of the LP
Monday, November 06, 2006
One of the central aspects of the COMELEC resolution on the LP leadership issue is the holding of an election for new leaders of the Party on Friday, 13 November 2006, 10:00 a.m., at the Manila Hotel. The importance of this gathering cannot be emphasized enough.
The Liberal Party has been suffering the ill-effects of the misrepresentation by the Drilon cabal last 8 July 2005. Since then, there has been a feeling of mistrust and low-intensity PR competition from both sides. But, owing to months of the Drilon faction’s inaction, the assembly of 2 March 2006 formalized the break between the two camps.
A single leadership, decided on by the leaders and members of the Party in an election under COMELEC supervision, will (hopefully) end the in-fighting of the Party, at least on a public level. It is hoped that a new leadership agreed upon by partisans of both camps, democratically selected in a free and fair electoral process, will bring the two camps together.
It will also stop the exodus of LP members to other parties. The other political parties have taken advantage of the internal problems of the LP to raid our ranks. The ambiguity of the LP position stemming from the split – are we pro or anti Administration? – has left many local LP officials in the dark and subject to intense pressure from other parties. The election of Nov. 13 will hopefully stop this hemorrhaging of Liberals to other camps.
The infighting is also costly to the Party in that many of its programs were put on hold as early as July 8. Our Basic Orientation Seminars, training programs and forums have all come to a halt as each faction focuses on battling the other. With the elections, and a new, legitimately-elected leadership, the LP can continue with its political programs.
The split has also affected the strategic planning and preparations for the 2007 elections. Although it is very late already, the elections will afford the LP some time to salvage the lost preparation time and plan for the elections.
Although COMELEC will most likely stick to its original decision of letting the National Executive Council (NECO) elect the new leaders, Mayor Lito Atienza and the other leaders of the Party’s majority group wishes to exhort all members to come to Manila on 13 Nov. 2006. If the LP is in full force on Nov. 13, it will be political history in the making.
It will also be the best time to present your concerns to the new leaders of the Party; after their election, you can talk to them and then and there bring your concerns to their attention.
It is our intent to once again bring the political spotlight to the Liberal Party. The presence of the Party’s leaders and members from all across the nation will show the Philippines what the true LP is, and prove that, despite the year-long setback, the LP is still a force to be reckoned with.
So we hope you will be there on 13 Nov. 2006, and make the biggest political story of the year.
posted by Liberal Party of the Philippines @ 3:09 PM,
,
A SIMPLE APPROACH TO CHA-CHA
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
By: Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento
Much has been said and written about the proposed charter change. It has been the favorite topic of public debates, press conferences, opinion surveys, fora and symposia, and even at the pulpits of priests and pastors. Tri-media ads have translation in the dialects for wider information dissemination and greater impact. Needles to say, both the pros and cons have been presented, with each side, trying to give its best.
Very recently, I was invited to speak on the salient features of the proposed charter change to the barangay officials of a nearby municipality. During the open forum, several questions were raised and among others, the issue dealt with what can be considered as the advantage that could be derived on said proposal, explained and reduced to its simplest term. Admittedly, I took off my hat as a former member of the Consultative Commission and put myself in the shoe of an ordinary constituent so I may better understand how the masses perceive the proposal to be. I led them to consider their set-up in the barangay, where there is fusion of the executive and legislative branches of the government. As such, with a unicameral system, the passage/enactment of laws is expedited and the process of implementation becomes objective and appropriate. As I ended up my part, mostly if not all, expressed their agreement to my explanation.
From there, I gained a learning insight: the more complicated the presentation is, the lesser is the degree of acceptability among the masses especially those in the countryside. Consequently, in my opinion, there is a need to simplify the presentation of the proposed “Cha-Cha”, devoid of legal semantics and highly technical terms, so that it may win the support of the greater number of Filipinos.
Note: Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, City Mayor of Calbayog, is a member of the Consultative Commission. Click here to know more about him or you may access his webpage here.
posted by Liberal Party of the Philippines @ 4:08 PM,
,
Liberal Party
Address
4/F J&T Tower, 3894 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Manila
Contact Us
7158505, 7157040, 7130737
liberalparty.ph@gmail.com
The Liberal Online
Editor-in-Chief
Robert Anthony RamosBlog Master
Donna Babadillaliberalpartyphilippines@gmail.com
