Belmonte: LP aiming to be the ‘real’ party

SPEAKER Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday said he would give his time and best effort as campaign manager of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

In an ambush interview, Belmonte said LP is aiming to become the “real” political party despite the likely scenario of the so-called political “butterflies” or politicians switching from one party to another.

“I think the LP is trying its best to create a real party and I think the others as well. Pero the notion of total party membership and total loyalty is still not there. Madali pa ring lumipat from one ticket to another,” Belmonte said.

He said Roxas’ Senate slate is composed of candidates from other groups. Among the original LP members in the slate are reelectionists Senators Franklin Drilon (who is also LP vice chair), Teofisto “TG” Guingona III and Ralph Recto, former senator Francis Pangilinan, and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

Another senatorial bet, former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, has just taken her oath as LP member.

Meanwhile, those who belong to other parties and have allied with LP are: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chair Joel Villanueva from Cibac party-list, former congressman Cresente Paez of Coop-Natcco party-list, Risa Hontiveros from Akbayan party-list, Interior Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs Nariman Ambolodto, Mark Lapid from Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, and former senator and rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson who is running as independent.

Belmonte said LP’s practice of adopting outsiders is nothing new in politics, but he urged the public to be more vigilant about politicians switching to other parties for political convenience.

Belmonte himself was a stalwart of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before going over to the Liberal Party to support President Benigno Aquino III’s presidential bid.

“It’s easy to move from one party to another dito. I agree with that observation that one of the reasons maybe because it’s so easy to move from one party to another and we get used to the idea na wala naman public opinion na galit sa ’yo for moving around,” Belmonte said.

“I think the public opinion should be the guard na huwag ka palipat-lipat,” he added.