Gonzales' party breaks away from admin coalition

With nine months into the 2010 national elections, a political party headed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s security adviser on Sunday announced its formal breakaway from the administration coalition. In a statement, Norberto Gonzales, chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), said the party “is now pursuing its own track" and would field its own candidates, possibly including a standard-bearer, for next year’s elections. "As of now, PDSP is considering supporting one from among some of the declared presidentiables. But it is also open to the possibility that new presidential aspirants may still emerge," Gonzales said. He however clarified that they would remain an ally of the Arroyo administration, although they would not join the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. In 1992, PDSP helped then President Corazon Aquino conduct public consultations in determining who to support in that year’s polls. This led to the endorsement of then Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos, who won the elections. Gonzales said among the criteria that they are looking for in a standard bearer is his or her willingness to share the party's advocacy of fundamental political reforms, which would "make elections in the country meaningful." PDSP is a staunch advocate of Charter change, which is being pushed at the House of Representatives either through constituent assembly or constitutional convention. Malacañang, on the other hand, saw nothing wrong with Gonzales’ decision to pull his party out of the administration coalition. “We do not begrudge him for that," said Gabriel Claudio, the presidential adviser for political affairs and secretary general of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, of Gonzales. He added that as head of PDSP, Gonzales has the prerogative to set the course of his group for 2010 based on their party's objectives and agenda. Claudio also belittled PDSP, saying that even with its own separate lineup, the party would not be a threat to the administration and its candidates. “I am not aware of a single governor, congressman or mayor being affiliated with Secretary Gonzales' party, so I don't see how it can affect the strength of the rest of the administration coalition," he said. - GMANews.TV