MANILA, Philippines?The possibility of the Liberal Party teaming up with militant lawmakers waned after they met with the party's standard bearer, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Wednesday evening to discuss their political plans, according to Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.

Aquino and the militants also talked about the contentious subject of Hacienda Luisita, and Aquino brought up his displeasure at rallies that militants held against his mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Ocampo, who is seeking a Senate seat along with Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, said that though Aquino was ?relaxed? during the dinner meeting, the talks failed to result in any declaration that the militants would be considered for the party's senatorial lineup, or in any agreement to include the militants on the slate.

?At the minimum, [we talked about] what we could work together for in his platform but he was silent about whether we would be included among those they would consider. There was nothing categorical like that. That's why I said it was remote because there was no statement that we could be considered,? Ocampo told reporters at the Serye forum in Quezon City.

What the militants were told was that the applicants for the remaining slots in the slate were numerous.

?They said there were many falling in line, more than double the number of slots, and there were special groups lobbying to be accommodated,? he said.

Also on the LP's senatorial line up is Rep. Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan, a group that is ideologically at odds with Bayan Muna and the other left-leaning organizations.

On the other hand, the Nacionalista Party headed by Sen. Manuel Villar has said that it would leave two slots open for Ocampo and Maza in its senatorial line up.

The militant groups, who have formed the Makabayan coalition that would be carrying its two senatorial bets, would decide next week on who to team up with and support for President.

Ocampo said that during the dinner with Aquino, the latter discussed his stand on the issues surrounding the family owned Hacienda Luisita.

The property is in the middle of a bitter agrarian reform dispute. Earlier, the property was placed under the stock distribution option, where farmers were stockholders of the corporation that nominally owns the property. This was in lieu of them being given land.

The government has since struck down the SDO scheme, but the hacienda's management has appealed the ruling before the Supreme Court. Farmers' groups affiliated with the militants have been calling for the distribution of the land to the farmers.

Ocampo said that during the dinner, Aquino promised to keep on studying the issues, and even if his family would let go of the property, he would continue to look after the interest of the workers.

He also said the Hacienda Luisita issue was not the main stumbling block to the possible partnership between Aquino and the militants.

?I told Noynoy that he should not personalize the issue because it goes back to when he was young. But if he would become President, he has an obligation to do something about agrarian reform. He said it has to be completed,? he said.

Ocampo also perceived there were other groups around Aquino who have a say in who would be included on the party's slate.

During the dinner, Aquino also aired his displeasure about a picket that militants held outside the house of his late mother a few years ago, said Ocampo. Ocampo had gone to the place to stop the rally, and then met with the former President to accompany her to a press conference where they called for the resignation of President Macapagal Arroyo.