Lakas party execs to meet over Fernando 'threat'

MANILA, Philippines – Ranking officials of the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) are set to discuss the reported threat of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando to leave the party if he would not be anointed as its standard bearer in 2010. Radio dzBB’s Lito Laparan quoted Ed Malay, spokesperson of Lakas-CMD chairman emeritus Fidel Ramos, as saying that the party will hold an executive committee meeting to discuss the pertinent moves to address Fernando’s threat. Last week, Fernando hinted at following the path of Ramos who bolted the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino after he did not win the party’s nomination in the 1991 convention. He founded the Lakas ng Tao party and eventually won the presidency in 1992. Fernando made the statement after Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri cited the MMDA chief’s poor showing in surveys as reason for his [Fernando's] possible removal from the party’s shortlist of possible presidential bets. In Monday’s radio report, Malay said that some Lakas officials found Fernando’s threat “alarming," while some were irked. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV