Roxas hits Atienza wing of Liberal Party

MANILA, Philippines - There seems to be no end to the fight between the factions of the Liberal Party (LP) led by Sen. Manuel Roxas II and Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza.

Several paid advertisements appeared yesterday stating that Atienza is the true leader of the LP. The paid ads came when Roxas led the LP in ceremonies commemorating the 26th anniversary of the assassination of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a party stalwart.

Roxas said Atienza should not have timed the ads on the occasion.

He said the spotlight must be on their martyred member and not on their own respective agenda.

Roxas said the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had already ruled against Atienza’s faction.

He said Atienza should not be allowed to use the name of the party, even if their faction had been renamed Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (Kalipi).

Atienza led the faction with former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor and other local leaders.

Roxas, on the other hand, led the LP with former party president and now chairman Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Rodolfo Biazon and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and other local officials.

The breakup started when Drilon and his allies announced at the height of the “Hello, Garci” poll fraud controversy in July 2005 that they had cut loose from the administration coalition and called for the resignation of President Arroyo.

Atienza, then the party chairman, announced they would still stick with the coalition and support Mrs. Arroyo.

The former Manila mayor claimed Drilon made the unilateral announcement without consulting party members.

Roxas added Atienza’s ads were in bad taste as they described him as “the last remaining survivor of the Plaza Miranda bombing still active in Philippine politics today.”

LP’s campaign rally in 1971 at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila was held to proclaim its candidates for the elections, but as a crowd of about 4,000 gathered, two hand grenades were reportedly tossed on stage.

Among those killed was a five-year-old child and Manila Times photographer Ben Roxas.

Almost everyone on stage was injured, including former senator Jovito Salonga, Roxas’ father Gerry who was also LP president at that time, and Sergio Osmeña Jr., son of former president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines Sergio Osmeña.

Roxas said it was clear that Salonga remained active in fighting for the rights of the people. – Aurea Calica