House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) vice chairman and House minority leader Danilo Suarez on Wednesday said he foresees “massive regrouping” in the political alliances after the midterm elections.
In a press conference, he said that such a shake-up was “inevitable” considering the rumored tensions within the Liberal Party coalition.
He was reacting to former Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco’s statement that the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) would only support three of the ruling party’s senatorial bets–two of them coming from the NPC.
This was denied by NPC spokesperson and Valenzuela Representative Rex Gatchalian who said they would be fully supportive of President Benigno Aquino III.
Cojuangco, NPC’s provincial chairman in Pangasinan, was disappointed at what he felt was political harassment against NPC members Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino and Pangasinan Representative Jesus Celeste who are facing murder charges for the death of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez.
Suarez believed that the political parties which formed an alliance with the LP are “invoking their agreement with the late (Interior) Secretary (Jesse) Robredo.”
“There seemed to be a working arrangement before the accident… Kinasuhan mo ang NPC members ng murder at illegal gambling, baka hindi sila tumutupad sa usapan (they filed murder and illegal gambling charges against NPC members, maybe they are not following through with the agreement),” he said.
“The animosity is getting to be serious. As I’ve predicted, pagdating ng kampanya, kanya-kanyang hulugan na yan (on the campaign period, they would be junking each other),” said the Lakas-CMD official.
Although weakened at this time, Lakas-CMD will take this tension among coalition members as an opportunity.
“We’ll just watch them fight. And when they are tired and have demolished each other, then enters Lakas,” said Suarez.