Lakas elects JDV as party president

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. was elected yesterday as the president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, replacing Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. who resigned from the party last Friday.

De Venecia said Guingona’s resignation was expected since the Vice President is reportedly eyeing the presidency. "It is expected that he will change party," he said.

In an interview with Super Radyo Dagupan, De Venecia, who is co-chairman of Lakas-CMD and one of its original founders in 1991, said that it was the decision of most Lakas leaders to elect him as party president after Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. turned down the post.

Pangasinan leaders rejoiced over his election.

"The election of De Venecia as party president brings honor to the province and Pangasinenses as well," Pangasinan Gov. Oscar Lambino told The STAR.

De Venecia is the congressman of Pangasinan’s fourth district.

During the party’s national directorate meeting held yesterday at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, the Speaker vowed to do his best for the party.

Meanwhile, moving to consolidate the party for the May 2004 elections, President Arroyo rallied yesterday the members of Lakas-CMD saying that it is "the strongest party in the country today."

In a taped video message from Bali, Indonesia, Mrs. Arroyo told the jampacked gathering to brace for difficult months ahead as the party works to maintain its ascendancy and work hard for reforms and economic development.

"Lakas is the strongest party today," Mrs. Arroyo said. "Our party will work on a fresh platform combining strong economy, security, political, diplomatic and social features."

She said Lakas will be ready for the long fights against poverty and terrorism, combining strong democratic governance based on honesty, effectiveness and subsidiarity.

"The struggle will be difficult because we shall wield righteousness, reform, reconciliation against guns, goons and gold," Mrs. Arroyo said. "It will be difficult because we shall seek justice under the rule of law while our adversaries seek to evade it."

But she stressed that Lakas will prevail because of "superior values, superior organization and superior strategy."

While she is in Bali, Indonesia attending the ninth Informal Leaders’ Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the President thanked Lakas leaders for formally nominating her as the party’s presidential standard-bearer for the May 10, 2004 elections.

"I have felt your sincere nudging to convince me to be the party’s standard-bearer in next year’s polls," she told her partymates.

However, she insisted that her decision to reverse her Dec. 30 declaration that she will not seek another term as president, was hers alone.

De Venecia also defended Mrs. Arroyo’s decision, saying it is not true that she has no word of honor because she did not stick to her earlier pronouncements.

Mrs. Arroyo’s real decision, De Venecia stressed, was really not to run but because she wants to continue her achievements like the economic progress she has attained and the peace agreement, among other issues, "she was challenged."

One thing good about it, according to De Venecia, is big leaders all over the world are supporting her.

In the same video-taped message, Mrs. Arroyo challenged the opposition to come up with its own presidential bet who can match her experience in handling national and domestic concerns, and most especially her international exposure and stature.

She said she has gained knowledge, experience and insight in leading the country out of the state of division, political instability and stunted growth in her more than two years in office.

"Nation-building must be shaped by enlightened statesmanship and I challenge the opposition to define its own foreign policy platform and present this to the people," the President said.

According to De Venecia, among the possible running mates of the President are Senators Robert Barbers and Noli de Castro, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II and even former education secretary Raul Roco, who is also a presidential wannabe.

De Venecia said Roco as Lakas-CMD vice presidential bet is a possibility being discussed by the party though "Roco is not keen about it."

According to De Venecia, former ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, a potential presidential candidate and founding chairman of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), might also be a good choice because of his achievements, but he is also reportedly "not interested." — with reports from Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva