Despite merger, in-fighting at local level hounds Lakas-Kampi-CMD

MANILA, Philippines - Disputes among members continue to hound administration coalition Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) despite their recent merger in preparation for next year’s national elections. Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary general Reggie Velasco on Monday said they aim to settle these disputes first before finalizing their list of candidates for the 2010 polls, including their standard-bearer. “The merger is still at the honeymoon stage and we will take advantage of the situation to settle local disputes," he said during the weekly Kapihan ng Bayan news forum. Local disputes were blamed for the poor performance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s senatorial ticket in the 2007 elections, with only three of the administration’s 12 candidates making it in the Senate. The deepening crack within the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was highlighted when Camarines Sur. Rep. Luis Villafuerte and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando snubbed the formal merger of the parties last May 28. Villafuerte, then Kampi president, stayed away from the merger over unresolved disputes at the local level, while Fernando, a member of Lakas, said he did not attend the ceremony because his own party snubbed his offer and would rather have an “outsider" as its standard-bearer. Fernando, who has openly declared his intention to run for president next year, was reacting to reports that the merged party has narrowed down its choices for presidential candidate to Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Both De Castro and Teodoro, although non-party members, were present during the merger ceremonies held at the Manila Hotel in Manila. But Velasco said the decision to formally include De Castro and Teodoro in the selection process is yet to be determined by the selection committee. He also said the party has not even discussed yet if it would allow “outsiders" to be included in the selection process. As it is, he said the party is now wary of picking outsiders before election time, noting the “lessons" of past elections. “Most of the critics of the administration are former allies of President Gloria Arroyo [who] immediately bolted the party after winning the elections," he said. Fernando’s wife, Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, meanwhile said problem may arise if the party would allow candidates outside of the coalition to be included in the list. She warned that this may cause disunity particularly in the local level. “Local officials are willing to support the national candidates of the party as long as they are all members of the party. How can you get the support of your party mates if you will pick a candidate who is not a member of the family?" she said. - GMANews.TV