FVR appeased, congratulates Lakas-Kampi merger - Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Fidel V. Ramos was finally appeased and even congratulated the merger of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) after a meeting with senior Malacañang officials Saturday night. “All is well with FVR. He extended his congratulations for the conclusion of the merger," said Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs and Lakas senior deputy secretary general. Claudio added that Ramos, who is Lakas chairman emeritus, did not object to his assumption as chairman emeritus of the newly-merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Ramos and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. founded Lakas in the early 1990s. Both were absent during the meeting for the merger held in Manila Hotel last Thursday. The Malacañang official said he and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had a closed-door meeting with Ramos on Saturday evening, where they discussed the former president’s suggestions on matters related to the merger. The merger aims to strengthen the administration for the 2010 national elections. FVR's advice Claudio said Ramos advised that they newly-merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD to conduct consultations and modify the constitution and by-laws of the new party “to better embody the ideology and tradition of both parties." The former president also urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to consult leaders of the erstwhile parties in designating interim members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s national executive committee. Among others, Ramos also said that the new party should secure its links with the Centrist Democrat International (CDI), an international political group in which the Lakas-CMD is a member. Claudio said Ramos suggestions “would be acted upon." Last Thursday, Lakas-CMD and Kampi formalized their merger, with President Arroyo as the national party chairperson. Flak The merger subsequently drew flak from Ramos, who said it lacked in consultation and was done with “undue haste." Claudio said he apologized to Ramos for “some coordinative lapses," which he attributed to the former president’s being out of the country for the last two weeks. “I explained the need for the merger to have been conducted before the adjournment of Congress sine die as well as the caucuses and other preparations that preceeded the May 28 merger assembly," Claudio said. Candidate Meanwhile, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde brushed aside concerns that the administration is selecting candidates who are not members of the two parties. This was after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando questioned the administration’s looking at Vice President Manuel “Noli" de Castro Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as possible administration standard bearers in the 2010 elections. “It’s normal (na) pagdating sa national election ang partido maghahanap ng kandidato na winnable, and will continue the visions and programs of the party [It’s normal that when the elections come, the party looks for candidates who are winnable and who will continue the visions and programs of the party]," Remonde said in an interview over radio dzBB Sunday morning. “We will not look only within members of the party and non-members. Normal ‘yan sa Pilipinas [This is normal in the Philippines]," he added. De Castro is not formally allied with Lakas or Kampi, while Teodoro used to be part of Nationalist People’s Coalition. He is now independent. Fernando, who has openly expressed his intentions to run for president next year, is a member of Lakas. He was absent during Thursday's meeting but his wife, Marikina mayor Marides Fernando, was present. - GMANews.TV