Roxas retains LP leadership; Aquino elected chairman

UPDATED 4:00 p.m. - Former Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas II retained the leadership of the Liberal Party (LP) on Wednesday after he was reelected as president of the ruling party despite reports that some congressmen were plotting to oust him from his current position. Meanwhile, President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III replaced Senator Franklin Drilon as chairperson. The election of officers was held on Wednesday during the party’s national executive council meeting that coincides with LP’s celebration of its 65th founding anniversary at the Club Filipino in San Juan. “Ang karaniwang sinasabi kapag 65 years old na ang isang tao ay magreretiro na... pero ang Partido Liberal ay matibay na matibay pa," Roxas said in a speech during the anniversary celebration, attended by more than a hundred LP members. Roxas, who lost his vice presidential bid in the May 2010 polls, has been the LP president since 2007. Roxas is contesting the victory of incumbent Vice-President Jejomar Binay before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. “Isang malaking karangalan na matanggap ang vote of confidence and trust ng Pangulo at ng buong Partido Liberal. Maliwanag na ang samahan ditto ay sa tuwid na daan at hindi pansamantalang interes lamang para sa pamumulitika," he said in a separate press conference. Roxas’ reelection came days after a newspaper reported that congressmen, who were former members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, were plotting to oust him and instead elect House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as LP president. Belmonte was Lakas-Kampi’s vice-president before abandoning the party months before the 2010 elections. s Belmonte said on Wednesday that he personally supports Roxas as LP president. Aquino expects legislative support Drilon and Belmonte, meanwhile, were elected vice-chairpersons while Interior and Local Government chief Jesse Robredo was reelected as LP’s executive vice-president (EVP)—a post he has held since last year after Aquino relinquished it during the campaign season. Three more LP members from the House of the Representatives were elected to the party leadership: Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya retained his post as party secretary-general, Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad as vice president for policy and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali as treasurer. Quezon Province Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, LP spokesperson, said that Aquino’s chairmanship of the ruling party as well as its “strength" in Congress is important to ensure that the President’s priority legislations are enacted into law. “The President expects members to be behind him in his legislative agenda that will be crafted after the LEDAC [Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council]," he said. Aquino is scheduled to convene the LEDAC before the end of the month to set his administration's legislative priorities. The LP, one of the country’s oldest active political parties, has four members at the Senate and more than 80 members at the House of Representatives. Aside from Aquino, the LP has produced three of the country’s former presidents: Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, and Diosdado Macapagal.– VVP, GMANews.TV