Atienza calls for unity, challenges Roxas to hold LP convention

MANILA, Philippines – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, president of the faction of the Liberal Party which parted ways with the group of current LP president Franklin Drilon, yesterday reiterated his call for the unification of the party.

At the same time, Atienza urged Sen. Manuel Roxas II to call for a national election to finally settle the leadership issue in the country’s second oldest political party.

“I implore you, Senator Roxas, let us unite,” said Atienza after speaking of the many victories that the LP won in its 62-year history when it acted in unity.

“Let us gather all the Liberals of the Philippines and there elect, in a free and democratic manner those who will lead our party,” he said.

Atienza made the challenge to Roxas after the election of the new leadership of the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (Kalipi), the youth wing of the LP, during its 6th National Congress at the Imperial Suites in Quezon City yesterday.

Atienza appealed to Roxas “to open the road to unity, so that a free election of leaders of the LP can be done in the most democratic way possible.”

“This is not about Lito Atienza or Mar Roxas. This goes beyond personalities,” he said. “We cannot elect a Liberal government in 2010 if we are not united.”

Atienza’s challenge came after Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party confirmed his presidential plans for 2010, and a few weeks after Villar declared that the LP is the least to be watched in 2010 because it is much smaller in number compared to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

The LP split into two factions after Drilon, then president of the party, and his allies called for the withdrawal of support for Mrs. Arroyo a few years ago. The Drilon faction also supported impeachment calls against Mrs. Arroyo. – Christina Mendez