Villar’s NP seen to merge with Aksyon Demokratiko

The Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by incoming Senate President Manuel Villar is getting support from another political party following reports that it plans to merge with the Liberal Party.

The political alliance between the NP and the Aksyon Demokratiko is only at the exploratory stage, but there is talk of a possible merger in the 2007 elections.

In a statement, lawyer Melanio "Batas" Mauricio, Aksyon Demokratiko vice president and spokesman, and broadcast journalist Jay Sonza, party secretary-general, said they have started talking with Villar "with the hope of forming a formidable tandem that would uplift the sorry political state of the country."

Mauricio said an honest government has become one of Villar’s advocacies in the Senate with his proposals to combat graft and corruption.

"With Nacionalista Party’s vast political experience and Aksyon Demokratiko’s fire for public service, the long-overdue change in the political scenery has come," he said.

Sonza said Villar best exemplifies the person who would help Aksyon Demokratiko pursue the late Sen. Raul Roco’s vision of HOPE — an acronym standing for honest government; opportunity for all and special privileges for none; peace, productivity and prosperity; and education and environment for sustainable development.

"Villar’s records speak for itself," he said. "At this point, no one can match his achievements as a lawmaker and as a person in general."

Villar’s moniker — "Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga" — is in line with Aksyon Demokratiko’s program of uplifting the condition of the poor through hard work and entrepreneurship, Sonza added.

The merger discussions between the NP and Aksyon came a few weeks after LP president and outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon confirmed that the LP is planning to join the NP in time for next year’s elections.

The NP-LP merger was initiated by Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, LP chairman.

Founded in 1907, the NP is the oldest political party in the country, while Aksyon Demokratiko was established by Roco in 1998 in his first run for the presidency.

Aksyon Demokratiko is recognized by the Commission on Elections as the third most dominant political party today.

Villar, who came from a poor family in Tondo, built his real estate empire from scratch.

With his strong desire to improve his family’s living conditions, Villar worked hard selling shrimp and fish in the market to see himself through school.