Lakas not yet aligned with any political party

MANILA, Philippines - The Lakas Christian and Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) yesterday denied reports that it has aligned with a political party or a presidential candidate.

Lakas-CMD secretary general and spokesman Jose Aquino II said the party leadership has asked him to clarify reports that Lakas has already committed its support to a particular party or candidate.

“This is not true. While some of our members may have expressed their personal opinions, it is not binding on Lakas,” he said.

“How can we initiate talks or forge ties with other parties or candidate when we have yet to finish our internal consultations?” he added.

Aquino also said Lakas-CMD would make an announcement if it has forged a coalition with another party or supports a presidential candidate. Such announcement will come only from Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez or Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., president and chairman of the party, respectively.

Aquino also stressed that despite the persecution being done against the Lakas-CMD leadership and membership, the party continues to be relevant and is still a force in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, groups that helped topple the 21-year dictatorial rule of the late President Ferdinand Marcos have joined the growing alliance to support the possible presidential bid of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Oliver Lozano, spokesman for the newly formed Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and Partido Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM) coalition, said the former political enemies of the late president are now pushing for the presidential candidacy of his son and namesake to regain the past glories of the country.

“The anti-Marcos groups now realize the former president was a great visionary and they want Sen. Marcos to become the next leader to heal the political wounds in the past that are hindering progress of the country,” he added.

KBL president Vicente Millora said the KBL and PMM coalition would be an independent political party that will field candidates from president to the local level.

The KBL and PMM coalition will also join original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), leftist and other anti-Marcos groups in the Sept. 11 signing of the multi-sectoral and multi-partisan covenant against computer cheating at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. This will be followed by a “people’s march” for clean and credible elections. – With Perseus Echeminada