Nograles: Why would I resign from Lakas-Kampi?

House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday said he was not leaving the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, a day after he announced in a press statement that he was planning to join the Nacionalista Party (NP). “Why will I resign? I don’t want my party to be wrecked," Nograles said in an interview with GMA News after a sortie in Davao City, where he is running for mayor. Nograles, however, decried being currently "out of the loop" on party matters, saying his role has been reduced from Lakas-Kampi national chairman to being a senior adviser. "I am not within the loop now of these people. Kaming mga seniors, ginawa na lang kaming senior advisers (We, the senior ones, were made into mere senior advisers)," he said. "From Lakas president, to vice-chairman, to senior adviser for senior citizens, and now I am being asked to report to special assistance for special concerns. Wala akong papel(I have no more role)," he added.

On Monday, Nograles, who was one of the stalwarts to sign the covenant forming the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in 2008, expressed doubts about staying under the administration party, saying recent defections from the party has left him confused. [See: More defections hit Lakas as Nograles eyes transfer to NP] Key Lakas-Kampi local executives — including former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit" Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri and Cebu Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz — left the administration party last month and supported NP presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. Amid the defections, Nograles said it is up to administration standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to reach out to local candidates to prevent further moves to quit the party. "Who is the national candidate? Who will reach out to (whom)? Should the local candidate reach out to the national candidate?" he said in the same GMA News interview. — Andreo Calonzo/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV