De Villa’s Palace post uncertain after party split

The Reporma party’s decision to bolt the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) has placed in doubt the position of Reporma chieftain Renato de Villa as presidential adviser on strategic concerns, Palace officials said yesterday.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said President Arroyo has not made an official stand on Reporma’s departure from the PPC or on De Villa position in her Cabinet.

"The President has not mentioned anything because this is a new development," Bunye said in an interview with Radio Mindanao Network.

"Secretary De Villa is a presidential adviser and is very active in the peace talks and several concerns in Mindanao. He remains a friend although his Reporma broke away from the coalition," Bunye said.

Bunye said Reporma’s departure will not likely have "much significant effect" on the PPC which was forged by the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party for the congressional and local elections in 2001.

Reporma’s decision to bolt the coalition was announced Friday by Reporma secretary general and Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas during a press conference called by Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who also resigned as Lakas-CMD president last week.

In announcing the breakaway, Mandanas also said "we are rallying behind Guingona."

Presidential political liaison officer Jose Ma. Rufino told The STAR the Lakas-CMD leadership was not surprised by Reporma’s break-away since they had already announced last year that they would support the presidential candidacy of former education secretary Raul Roco.

"When President Arroyo declared she was not running in next year’s election, Reporma said they were going to support Roco’s candidacy," Rufino said.

"So we find it strange that they would now say they will go for Guingona. It’s like joining the left and the right. We also find it strange that they used President Arroyo’s decision to run next year as an excuse. What are they talking about?" Rufino said.

Another Lakas-CMD official, who asked not to be named, said Reporma bolted from the coalition because it appeared that Lakas-CMD will field former justice secretary Hernando Perez against Mandanas for the Batangas governorship.

"I’m afraid that announcement by Mandanas that Reporma will leave the PPC has something to do with the local politics in Batangas," the official told The STAR.

But other sources maintain that Reporma’s decision to bolt the coalition was part of the seemingly increasing cooperation between Reporma, Roco’s Aksiyon Demokratiko party and the Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative (Promdi) party of Cebu political dynast Lito Osmeña.

The three parties are all part of the PPC which also includes the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and the Liberal Party, led by Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad.

Roco’s presidential bid appeared to be moving along as membership in his "Volunteers 4 Roco" increased dramatically in recent months, forcing Roco’s team to hold two volunteer orientation programs every week in different sites, reported sources.

Sources close to the Roco camp said their candidate’s appeal among women and the youth will also be boosted by political leadership from Aksiyon Demokratiko, Promdi and Reporma.

Reporma claims to have 600 incumbent officials as members, including five governors aside from vice governors, mayors, vice mayors and councilors.

Osmena’s Promdi, on the other hand, has also proven to have a dynamic machinery in vote-rich Cebu and northern Mindanao.