The ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Sunday downplayed reports that some 500 of its members in Camarines Norte had voted to take an indefinite “mass leave of absence” as a show of support for Gov. Edgardo Tallado, who was expelled last month from the party for immorality.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Tallado was given a fair and due process after he became embroiled in a sex scandal involving another woman who was not his wife. Their photos went viral on social media in October last year.
In a June 15 resolution, the administration party said Tallado’s “grossly immoral act” had “tarnished the good name and reputation of the LP as a whole.”
“The LP leadership has a different point of view on the issue. His case underwent a process. It was decided on by the regional leaders so we respect and support that,” Roxas said.
Roxas is seen as the LP candidate for president in 2016.
Party secretary general Mel Sarmiento also downplayed the impact of the mass leave of Tallado’s allies, as he called on LP members to respect the decision of the party. He said, however, that party members could still express their support for Tallado.