Kampi prexy nixes merger with Lakas, leaves Arroyo party

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte has not only withdrawn his support from the merger of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino with Lakas-CMD, the president of Kampi has also decided to leave his own party. Villafuerte said unresolved issues in local politics was among the reasons why he had decided not to support the merger. He also claimed that his move to bolt Kampi, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's party, would not affect his political standing in the province's second district. Villafuerte, who was notably absent at the Kampi national council meeting presided over by party chairman and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday, told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview that he had already told party members about his decision not to join the merger. "I have already notified in advance that since the agenda there is the proposed merger between Lakas and Kampi, and I have already decided not to join the merger, I think it was best not to attend the meeting anymore," said Villafuerte. "I will remain an independent. I'm very secure in my own congressional district," he added. Unresolved disputes According to Villafuerte, Lakas and Kampi were not able to resolve their political disputes before the two parties decided to push through with the merger supposedly to increase the administration candidates' chances of winning in the 2010 elections. He also said Lakas and Kampi failed to smooth out disagreements among party chairmen in the city and district levels. "We must also clarify what will happen to the existing coalition with NPC (Nationalist People's Coalition), LDP (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino), LP (Liberal Party)," said Villafuerte. "How they will be treated in the local situation I think must be clarified in advance with the merger." Villafuerte admitted that he had "differences with the approaches of some of the core leaders of Lakas." But he said his disagreement with House Speaker Prospero Nograles over Charter change "is not related at all" to his decision not to join the merger. Villafuerte and Nograles recently resigned as presidents of Kampi and Lakas, respectively, to allow the unification committee under presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio to facilitate the finalization of the merger. But the two would remain as heads of the two parties in a hold-over capacity until the merger is completed. Puno said the merger would be formalized later this week. Kampi vs Lakas The rift between Kampi and Lakas has long existed. During the election period in 2007, it was reported that the two parties had fielded their respective candidates against each other at the local level. Political parties within the administration coalition had also reportedly fielded their own candidates against administration incumbent officials. To address the problem, some vote-rich areas had been reportedly declared as free zones to enable Kampi, Lakas, and other parties within the administration coalition to field their own candidates. The free zones included the provinces of Western Samar, Agusan del Norte, Pangasinan, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan. Only three of the administration's senatorial candidates - Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, and Juan Miguel Zubiri – won in the 2007 polls. Some candidates of Team Unity who lost in the polls blamed the Lakas-Kampi rift for their defeat. Others claimed that majority of TU candidates lost due to Mrs. Arroyo's sagging popularity. In January 2009, ousted Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, who is founder of Lakas, said the merger would be "next to impossible." He claimed that many Lakas member would “secede" and “begin crossing the river" to avoid being identified with Mrs. Arroyo or they would be “wiped out" in the next elections. - with reports from Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV