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Serge Osmeña confirms bolting LP over Recto entry


Former Senator Sergio Osmeña III has confirmed that he had bolted the Liberal Party over differences with party leaders on the entry of former senator Ralph Recto. Osmeña's move marks the first crack within the LP, which has so far benefited from the exodus of political personalities from the ruling party months before the May 2010 polls. "Yes, I quit [the LP]. They want to talk with me again, but this early, I am telling you that nothing's going to happen that will change my mind," Osmeña said on Thursday in an interview with GMANews.TV. As early as last month, Osmeña, LP vice presidential candidate in the 1998 polls, warned party leaders that he would quit if LP chairman and former Senate president Franklin Drilon's negotiations with former socio-economic planning secretary Recto, and his wife, Batangas governor Vilma Santos would push through. "I told Butch that if Ralph is in, then I'm out," he said recalling what he had told to LP manager Florencio "Butch" Abad. When it was finally announced last Monday that Recto and Santos had joined the LP, Osmeña told LP standard-bearer, Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III and Abad that he had decided to leave the party. Osmeña recalled Aquino as saying that he was not aware about Osmeña's opposition to Recto's entry. Abad, meanwhile thought that Osmeña was not serious on his threat to leave the party. Osmeña had an inkling that party leaders hid from him the LP's final decision to take in Recto, whom he alluded to as a "traditional politician." "Tinago nila sa akin...prinsipyo na ito. When they got trapos [traditional politicians] at the local level, I kept silent. But trapos at the national level, that I cannot understand," said Osmeña. He further claimed that LP appeared to be just interested in getting only Santos, but Osmeña alleged that Recto insisted on a "package deal arrangement." GMANews.TV tried but failed to reach LP officials for comments on the recent developments within the party. Earlier, sources said Osmeña questioned LP's decision to accept Recto when he did not oppose or resist the administration's alleged corrupt practices during his stay in the Arroyo administration. Recto, as a senator, pushed for the passage of the expanded value added tax, which many believe cost him his reelection bid in 2007. The sources said Osmeña believes Recto's inclusion in the LP ticket would contradict Aquino and Roxas' advocacy on new politics and reforms. On Wednesday, Abad said the party "is in the process of looking into the reservations of Senator Osmeña." But Osmeña seems decided on pursuing his Senate bid with no party at all. "I will be more comfortable in facing the people, convincing them to elect me with no excess baggage." - GMANews.TV

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