MANILA, Philippines?The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday accredited the newly merged party of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) as a political party and junked the petition of Lakas originals questioning the merger.

The 18-page decision penned by Commissioner Elias Yusoph of the Comelec Second Division gave the administration-led Lakas-Kampi-CMD the go-signal to field and support candidates in the 2010 polls.

The Palace welcomed Comelec?s favorable ruling.

?We?re elated by the decision of the Comelec granting due accreditation to Lakas-Kampi-CMD as a merged party and dismissing the opposition of former Speaker JDV (Jose de Venecia Jr.),? Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said.

Boosting party ranks

Claudio said this would now allow party members nationwide to prepare for the elections with confidence and focus. ?Given this confidence, we also expect new recruits to boost the party?s ranks,? he said.

Kampi was formed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before she ran for vice president in 1997.

The Second Division, led by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, also denied the appeal of De Venecia, former Lakas-CMD president, to declare the Lakas-Kampi merger null and void.

?Lakas Kampi CMD has fully shown that it is qualified to be registered as a political party and that it has complied with all the procedural requirements needed for it to be registered and accredited as a national political party, notwithstanding the opposition of one of its former officials,? the ruling, which was issued Tuesday, said.

Standard-bearer

Early this month, Lakas-Kampi executives chose Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as their presidential candidate. This will be formalized in a party convention in November.

De Venecia, who claimed he was illegally kicked out of the merged group, said the partnership, which was formed in May 2009, violated the rules and principles of the Lakas-CMD charter and was only created to amend the 1987 Constitution, a pet project of Arroyo lawmakers.

But the poll body threw out De Venecia?s arguments, noting that Lakas-Kampi followed the Lakas-CMD charter rules in forming the organization. The poll body also stated that the merged party has considerable membership and track record.

Comelec said that if De Venecia was sincere in opposing the merger, he should have done it a long time ago.

?It is worthy to note that De Venecia is raising the issue just now, after more than a year of accepting the post of and performing the functions of the President Emeritus of Lakas-CMD,? the decision read.

The Comelec noted that De Venecia?s opposition came belatedly, about five days after the July 16 hearing on the party?s accreditation. But no party appeared to oppose the petition, it said.

15 days to appeal

Ferrer said De Venecia has 15 days upon receipt to submit a motion for reconsideration.

Reacting to Comelec?s decision, De Venecia said he was very disappointed considering that the case was ?very clear? from his point of view.

The former House Speaker and Lakas founder dared President Arroyo and other party officials to declare under oath that a national convention was held to ratify the merger.

De Venecia, who is in Geneva, said Lakas bylaws clearly stated that any merger should be approved by majority of members in a national convention or else it would be declared null and void.

He said the Lakas originals would immediately file a motion for reconsideration with the Comelec. They are also considering elevating the case to the Supreme Court with the hope of at least obtaining a temporary restraining order against the merger. With reports from Christian Esguerra and Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.