For 2022, LP insists its strength relies on people, not politicians

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat / Photo courtesy of Liberal Party

MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party (LP) still maintains that even in the 2022 national elections, the strength of a party comes from the people who are part of it and not with politicians fielded for the polls.

According to LP vice president for internal affairs Teddy Baguilat, the party’s general assembly with its chapters nationwide proves that, as delegates from the grassroots have taken part in the crafting of policies and the party’s stand on various issues.

“Ang lakas ng Partido ay nasa tao, wala sa politiko. Tulad ng sabi ng aming Party President, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, kasama sa pagdedesisyon ang aming mga miyembro,” Baguilat said.

(The strength of the party is with the people, not with the politicians.  Like what our party president, Senator Francis Pangilinan said, people and our members are included in the decision-making process.)

LP held an online general assembly on Monday, with over 220 delegates representing the various chapters in the country.  According to the party, t resolutions on the party’s stand on the economy, human rights, justice system, pandemic response, and poverty alleviation were raised by the members.

The draft resolutions are said to be endorsed during LP’s National Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 28.

LP deputy director general for education and formation Teddy Lopez said that allowing people to participate in the voting process and the crafting of resolutions is a testament to its resolve for inclusivity, like when it opened its membership to the sectors on the ground.

“We are challenging the people to respond to these issues. We don’t want to limit the debate on personalities. This is why we involve our members in building the platform,” Lopez added.

The plan to shift the party’s attention to the grassroots started when Vice President Leni Robredo took over LP in 2017, who suggested that they should instead convince people to join them.  In the same year, LP opened its membership to non-politicians.

This was after a mass exodus from LP in 2016, after the once ruling party back lost most of its members, jumping ship to either the new ruling party PDP-Laban and other major parties.

READ: Robredo officially takes control of  LP during ‘low-key’ meeting 

The grassroots drive also became the backbone of LP’s campaign in the 2019 midterm elections, when the Otso Diretso slate fielded new faces in the senatorial race.

While none of the opposition candidates won in 2019, LP still banked on the formula, believing it would bear fruit as the grassroots approach addresses a usual criticism against the party — that it is elitist, and left people in key discussions.

The same allegations of elitism is also believed to be the reason why people shifted to populist leaders as the unkept promises of the party led to differences.  However, Robredo stressed that such beliefs are unfounded, maintaining that a liberal mindset is still key to human progress.

READ: On LP’s 75th anniv, Robredo calls on members to persevere, welcome people 

READ: Robredo quells claim liberals’ unkept promises gave rise to populist leaders 

In terms of the elections, it is still unclear if Robredo, the party’s chairperson, would run in the 2022 national elections, as she is still undecided whether her joining the presidential race would be good for the country.

READ: Robredo still mulling if 2022 candidacy is best to foil Marcoses’ return to power 

JPV