LP backs Robredo to head opposition

ARNOLD ALMACENN/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

The Liberal Party (LP) is ready to stand behind Vice President Leni Robredo when she becomes the leader of the emerging opposition, party president Sen. Francis Pangilinan said on Friday.

While still part of the majority allied with President Rodrigo Duterte, the Liberal Party is expected to hold party consultations in the coming weeks and decide after the holidays whether or not to remain in the alliance.

“Should that time come that Vice President Leni decides to take on the position of leading the opposition, the LP will be behind her,” Pangilinan told the Inquirer.

Asked if he has spoken to Robredo about the prospect, Pangilinan said: “We have had initial discussions, yes.”

Speaking at the Meet Inquirer Multimedia on Thursday, Robredo said her role was “to be the unifying voice of all those who have expressed either disgust or opposition to the policies of this administration.”

In the same breath, she said she would continue supporting administration policies that she believes would be for public good.

The Vice President, the highest elected official from the LP roster, made the statements just days since leaving Mr. Duterte’s Cabinet, resigning from the housing portfolio. This followed the President’s order for her to “desist” from attending Cabinet meetings.

Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated on Friday that all senators have the leeway to independently decide on issues before the chamber regardless of political affiliation.

“As Vice President Leni has said, we will support initiatives that deserve support and oppose measures which are inimical to our people. It’s always been that way for the LP in the Senate,” Aquino said when reached for comment.

“And in fact, all senators, not just the LP, have a free hand in deciding how they will decide on issues on a case-per-case basis,” he added.

The LP remains to be a member of the majority bloc in Congress, although it had lost a chunk of its membership to the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as soon as President Duterte assumed post in July.

Pangilinan said a total of 82 of 115 LP members in the House of Representatives left the party and joined the PDP-Laban and other Duterte-allied parties.