DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—The recent defections from the ruling party are a gesture of protest by the members of the original Lakas-CMD against its merger with Kampi, Pangasinan Rep. and former Speaker Jose de Venecia said Saturday.

De Venecia, former president of the Lakas-CMD, had earlier petitioned the Commission on Elections to nullify the merger, but lost the case. But he has not given up hope.

“I am still trying to fight the battle in the Supreme Court,” he said.

De Venecia said the defections to the Liberal Party (LP) of Pangasinan officials, including Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, would “strengthen the LP and the presidential and vice presidential bids” of Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Manuel “Mar” Roxas.

Braganza, a former press secretary of President Macapagal-Arroyo, and other Pangasinan political leaders took their oath as LP members at the party headquarters in Quezon City on Friday. (See banner story on this page.)

Among those sworn in as LP members along with Braganza were Rep. Victor Agbayani and former Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino.

Agbayani and Lambino were the provincial chair and vice chair of Lakas-CMD, and Braganza, the deputy secretary general.

With FVR’s blessings
In a statement, Braganza said he had sought permission from his uncle, former President and Lakas-CMD founder Fidel Ramos, to leave the ruling party and join the LP.

Braganza said Ramos gave his blessings and smiled. “That is a good decision on your part,” he quoted Ramos as saying.

Ramos had also opposed the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi, and rejected an offer from Malacañang to be the merged party’s chair emeritus.

‘Quality candidates’

Braganza, a former congressman who is planning on seeking a third term as mayor of Alaminos, said he wanted to help Aquino and Roxas who were his colleagues in Congress.

“They are my friends, and I believe they can bring change to the country,” he said.

Braganza was on his second term as representative of the first district of Pangasinan when Ms Arroyo appointed him agrarian reform secretary in February 2001.

He stayed at the post until 2003, when he was appointed press secretary. He left that post a year later to run for mayor of Alaminos.

Agbayani, who is the new LP head in Pangasinan, will be the party gubernatorial candidate in 2010.

Other Pangasinan officials have signified their intention to join the LP, Agbayani said.

“I tell you, the candidates who are joining the LP are quality candidates. Some served for three terms and are very popular, and they share the LP vision for reform,” he said.

Agbayani said they left the Lakas-CMD because they believed there was “a need for change and reform in the country, and that the LP under Senators Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas will deliver the needed change and reform.”

The other Pangasinan officials who joined the LP were Board Member Danny Dizon, former Board Member Ariel de Guzman, Bani Mayor Marcelo Navarro, Calasiao Vice Mayor Nanding Galang, Aguilar Vice Mayor Boyet Sagles, Councilors Joe Ferrer and Edith Hallare of Lingayen and Councilor Francis Tinio of Binalonan.