Kiko Pangilinan designated as acting LP president

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has been designated as acting president of the Liberal Party, the erstwhile ruling party in the previous administration, until party elections are held.

Pangilinan replaces former acting president and transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. He was LP’s vice president before his new designation.

“Malaking hamon ang paghirang na ito. Alam ko at tinatanggap ang mga tungkuling kaakibat nito. I am humbled by the designation. I realize the weight of the position and I accept the responsibilities it entails. I am responding to this call to serve the people,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“Sa mga pagkakataong ganito, nalalaman natin kung sino talaga ang may matibay na pagkaunawa hindi lang sa mga prinsipyo ng partido kundi maging sa mga tungkulin ng isang partidong wala sa poder. We need to work within the current situation to redefine ourselves as a party: How can we as a party work on addressing poverty, joblessness and the high prices of basic necessities,” he added.

Election of new LP officers will be held during a national directorate meeting on or before March 31, 2017, according to a designation letter by Abaya.

Former interior secretary and defeated presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II was party president on leave since 2014.

A number of LP members, particularly in the House of Representatives, moved to the ruling party following the electoral victory of President Rodrigo Duterte. Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is the highest-elected LP member.

Calling for unity among political parties, Pangilinan maintained that the LP will be supportive of the administration’s anti-poverty programs.

“We have our individual and collective roles in nation-building. Hindi tayo magiging hadlang sa mabubuting plano at gawain ng Duterte administration para sa bayan, tulad ng kanyang mga anti-poverty programs, pro-labor and massive infrastructure plans, support for farmers and fisher folks, particularly the coco levy bill for coconut farmers, peace-building initiatives, and the focus to develop Mindanao,” he said.

“Magtanim tayo, hindi ng galit o sama ng loob, kundi ng pag-asa at mga polisiya at programang tama para sa bayan. Tapos na ang eleksyon. Palitan na natin ang ‘tards’ ng ‘pards’ at ‘mards’. Sama-sama tayong kumilos tungo sa isang bansang may malasakit sa kapwa, katarungan, at tunay na kalayaan — kalayaan mula sa kahirapan, katiwalian, at takot,” Pangilinan added./rga