Liberal Party, Nacionalista gearing to raid Lakas-NUCD ranks – Apostol

Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol disclosed yesterday that the newly revitalized Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party are preparing to recruit elected local officials that belong to other major political groups to join their ranks in preparation for the 2010 national elections.

Apostol said the administration’s Lakas-NUCD party would likely be a target of party raiding by both the LP and NP.

He said NP headed by Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and LP led by Sen. Manuel Roxas II are now strengthening their political clout among local officials through a massive recruitment campaign.

“They (NP and LP) are no longer looking for the welfare of the people, they’re more focused on politics,” Apostol told The STAR in an interview at a restaurant in Quezon City.

He said the early politicking of LP and NP would have an impact on the local officials who are mostly Lakas members in various parts of the country.

“The recruitment of the two sides has started already and it will continue until the 2010 elections,” Apostol said.

LP leaders have also launched the so-called “Balik Liberal” campaign to win back party members who have joined other parties.

Former Senate president and former LP president Franklin Drilon said the revitalized LP will field Senator Roxas as the party’s presidential bet in the 2010 elections.

The NP had also started its campaign for Villar who will be the party’s bet in the 2010 presidential polls.

The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, which was founded by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has also started to strengthen their ranks and is expected to merge with NP.

KBL chairman Vicente Millora is advocating a return to the two-party system led by LP and NP for the presidential elections.

Millora said the KBL is willing to merge with the NP if the two-party system is revived.