MANILA, Philippines -- President Macapagal-Arroyo?s chief political strategist admitted on Sunday that ?local internal conflicts? were driving away members of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

But Gabriel Claudio, also the party?s secretary general, denied that the organization was ?disintegrating? as had been speculated in the wake of the reported exodus of its members to rival parties.

He likened such departures to an organization ?shedding off excess weight ... to be in its best fighting form going into electoral battle.?

?Defections of some Lakas-Kampi members to the opposition do not signify a breakup in the administration party organization,? he said in a statement.

?The local leaders who quit the party all did so because of local internal conflicts, sparing us the agony of arbitration in their areas and allowing the administration to consolidate its strength around loyal, dedicated and formidable local party leaders who are known opponents of the defectors.?

Over the past few weeks, the ruling party has lost key allies such as Biliran Gov. Rogelio Espina, who defected to Sen. Manny Villar?s Nacionalista Party.

Villar?s party has also drawn in Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund ?LRay? Villafuerte Jr., and Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas.

The defections came at a time when the administration?s preferred standard-bearer, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, had yet to pick up in the surveys and had yet to attract a vice presidential candidate.

The party convention?during which Teodoro will be formally proclaimed as standard-bearer and his running mate named?has been moved to Nov. 19, the eve of the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Claudio said the defections did not necessarily left a ?void in the local party structure.?

?It even allows us to consolidate without the distraction of local intramurals,? he said.

Such ?local intramurals? were apparently the reason behind the failed merger of the Lakas-CMD and Ms Arroyo?s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) parties in the 2007 elections.

The merger did not formally happen until May 2009, but with still many unresolved differences among members contesting the same positions in the local level.

Claudio criticized parties supposedly pirating Lakas-Kampi members.

?The more they gloat about these so-called defections, the more they confirm their trapo character, building or beefing up (their) organization out of sheer piracy and luring disgruntled or displaced administration party members into their fold,? he said.