LP bolts PPC, backs Abad for speaker

The Liberal Party yesterday virtually bolted from the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) as it proclaimed Batanes Rep. Florencio "Butch" Abad as its bet in the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Abad, who is president of the party, was "proclaimed" by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, also an LP member, in a party gathering in Manila, an LP bailiwick.

Abad is expected to contest the bid of Pangasinan Rep. and two-time Speaker Jose de Venecia to regain his old seat as Speaker.

De Venecia is supported by the ruling Lakas-NUCD, Aksyon Demokratiko, Promdi, Reporma, PSDP, PDP-Laban, Nacionalista Party and breakaway groups from the LP and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

De Venecia also claims to have the backing of the 50-member Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), led by Rep. Gilberto Teodoro.

De Venecia managed to forge a coalition, dubbed "Sunshine Coalition," with the NPC and appears to have an edge over Abad but the Batanes congressman is not about to give up the fight.

"It is high time that the younger members of Congress be given the chance," Abad said, adding the LP is now beefing up its ranks with the support of the bloc of the opposition LDP, led by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla.

The new Speaker will be elected when the 12th Congress convenes on July 23, hours before President Arroyo delivers her first State of the Nation Address.

But PPC stalwart and Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano said the contest in the House has shifted from the Speakership to that for Minority Leader.

Albano said in the race for minority leader are Abad, Padilla, Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

Albano said some congressmen are trying to sow intrigue merely because they want the chairmanships of some major House committees.

"They want to become powerful members but we don’t agree to that. We are following new politics – the Sunshine Coalition is made up of many committed young men and women who share De Venecia’s vision in his Economic Action Plan 747," said Albano.

Economic Action Plan 747 aims to post a seven percent economic growth for seven years.

Parañaque Rep. Ed Zialcita said more than 80 percent of the 110 first-term congressmen "have signed a petition installing Rep. De Venecia as the next Speaker."

De Venecia’s camp also announced yesterday that 33 of 37 congresswomen have also declared support for De Venecia during a dinner at the Manila Polo Club, graced by President Arroyo.

Among the congresswomen already supporting De Venecia are Trinidad Apostol of Leyte, Elenita Ermita Buhain of Batangas, Belma Cabilao of Zamboanga Sibuyan, Carmen Cari of Leyte, Nannette Daza of Quezon City, Maite Defensor of Quezon City, Zenaida Ducut of Pampanga, Faysah Dumarpa of Lanao del Sur, Connie Dy of Pasay City, Glenda Ecleo of Surigao del Norte, Josephine Salo of Mindoro Occidental, Charity Leviste of Mindoro Oriental, Vicky Locsin of Leyte, Corazon Manlayaon of Davao Oriental, Clavel Martinez of Cebu, Reylina Nicolas of Bulacan, Lynette Punzalan of Quezon, Nerissa Soon Ruiz of Cebu, Lorna Silverio of Bulacan and Celia Layus of Cagayan.

De Venecia told a news forum at the Rembrandt Hotel that the Sunshine Coalition has more than 180 representatives whose names he will announce at a multi-party caucus in which they will also declare support for Mrs. Arroyo’s anti-poverty program.

The Pangasinan lawmaker reiterated the initiatives he has undertaken, including the plan to utilize the non-performing assets of commercial banks, amounting to some P270 billion, for the construction of some 400,000 houses each year by private housing developers.