Quimbo: It’s not LP’s business to make threats

IT was never the business of the Liberal Party to threaten its allies, campaign spokesperson and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo maintained Thursday in reaction to senatorial aspirant Panfilo Lacson’s complaint that LP had warned him not to endorse other presidential and vice presidential candidates outside the party.

“We’ve never been in the business of making threats, especially someone like Senator  Lacson. He is a guest candidate and we are absolutely happy that he is with us,” Quimbo told reporters after LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and vice presidential aspirant Leni Robredo filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections main office.

Downplaying the issue as an attempt by “a lot of people” to distract LP’s campaign, Quimbo clarified that the party only told its candidates not to do anything “harmful” to the Mar-Leni slate.

“All we said is we want you to exercise your deepest political discretion in whatever you do that it will not be harmful but only helpful to the Mar-Leni slate,” he said.

An independent senatorial candidate, Lacson was included by the ruling party in its slate. At the same time, Lacson said he had been in talks with Roxas’ opponent, Senator Grace Poe, regarding his adoption in the latter’s coalition.

However, during the launch of the “Daang Matuwid” coalition last Monday, Lacson was a no-show. But LP officials said Lacson arrived late as he had an equally important meeting to attend.

On Wednesday, Lacson took a swipe at Quimbo for reportedly saying that non-LP members, who were included in the slate could be endorsed by other candidates but LP guest candidates could not endorse other presidential and vice presidential candidates other than Roxas and Robredo.

Asked if tension has developed between him and Lacson, the spokesperson said: “Absolutely there is no friction.”

He even said Lacson represented “independence” and hailed him as an  “integrity fighter” who is needed in the administration coalition ticket.

“They are all matured people. They are veteran politicians. They know what is best and they know what to do,” he added.

Quimbo added that “small political wranglings” like the misunderstanding with Lacson should not be overblown as it had no basis.

“”I think it’s time to move on towards more substantial discussions. We want a program-based and platform-based debate because people deserve it no less,” he said. Julliane Love de Jesus