250 Negros Occidental execs join LP

BACOLOD CITY—President Benigno Aquino will administer the oath of about 250 local officials today as new members of the administration Liberal Party in Negros Occidental province.

The entry of new LP members is part of the move to strengthen the administration party in the wake of the 2013 elections.

President Aquino is expected to arrive at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, at 1:15 p.m. today to administer the oath-taking during the LP convention.

The new LP members include 11 mayors, 12 vice mayors, 1 provincial board member and 104 councilors, who are mostly members of the Lakas-NUCD, according to Sagay Councilor Bubbles Tolentino of the LP Negros Occidental secretariat.

The rest are past LP members and new recruits who are not elective officials.

Nine of the 11 mayors are Marxlen de la Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto, Leo Rafael Cueva of Sagay, Patrick Escalante of Cadiz, Ma. Lourdes Socorro Escalante of Manapla, Eric Saratan of Talisay City,  Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla, Francisco  Malabor of Isabela, Alberto Nicor Jr. of La Castellana and Jechonias Manzano of Candoni.

Joining the President at the convention on Saturday are Sen. Franklin Drilon, Transportation  Secretary Mar Roxas, who is  LP president, and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, LP executive vice president.

“We are rebuilding the LP in Negros Occidental to make it a party to reckon with in 2013,” Drilon told the Inquirer.

“We are also strengthening the LP all over the country,” said Drilon, the LP vice chair.

On Thursday, Cebu Rep. Luigi Quisumbing took his oath in Manila as new LP member. Quisumbing was a member of One Cebu Party of the Garcias, which had an alliance with Lakas-CMD and had supported Gilbert Teodoro for president in 2010.

In Aklan, Governor Marquez and 10 municipal mayors had also left the Lakas-Kampi-CMD to join the LP. They were sworn in by Drilon last week. Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores is also with the LP.

In Negros Occidental, the LP has raided the Lakas-CMD, the party of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose members are mostly mayors.

But the administration party has kept its hands off the Nationalist People’s Coalition with which it has an alliance.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who heads the United Negros Alliance and NPC Negros, said he would attend the LP convention.