Choosing Lakas presidential bet may cause split?

Backing only one standard-bearer could cause a three-way split in the ruling coalition, a party insider said yesterday.

The ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) may be splintered if the new coalition policy of supporting only one presidential candidate is implemented next month, the insider said.

The Lakas-CMD official said party leaders identified with President Arroyo created the policy to prevent Lakas members from backing other presidential aspirants.

"Those party officials close to the President want a purge of alleged disloyal party members through the adoption of a new party rule," under which all members would be required to toe the party line in order to stay in the party.

The new party line is that all Lakas members "are bound to support only one presidential candidate, who is President Arroyo," the official said.

While the majority of Lakas members remain solidly behind the President, a considerable number have been identified as supporting the presidential bids of businessman Eduardo Cojuangco and former education secretary Raul Roco.

Some ranking Lakas legislators, however, said they have not heard of any such new policy, adding that it is incumbent for any member of any political party to support its standard-bearer.

"That’s (full support for the party standard-bearer) implied, given and understood by all party members," Lakas party whip for Mindanao and Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles said in a telephone interview. "Party members should not only support, but actively campaign for the President."

Nograles said it would be unfair to the party and its leaders and loyal members if some would be benefiting from Lakas, in terms of logistical support and manpower — especially during elections.

He said once a party standard-bearer has been chosen, each member is expected to do his or her utmost to deliver the votes from their areas or districts.

If the President or other national candidates did poorly in a district, the party member responsible could be suspected of "playing with the other side."

"If you cannot support the party’s line-up, you must resign or leave the party," he said.

House Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez said there is no such policy requiring the party members to support only Mrs. Arroyo.

"There’s no such thing, I’m sure once she’s nominated, nobody would nominate another, in deference to her," Gonzalez said. "It would be queer if one does not support whoever the party’s standard-bearer will be."

He said there is a very strong sentiment among party leaders and members to ask the President to seek a second term.

Meanwhile, the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) will hold a national convention today at the Manila Hotel to discuss its coalition with Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), LDP president Sen. Edgardo Angara said.

Angara said the convention is the beginning of the process of unifying the opposition, so the united opposition can move forward with a common purpose.