Caloocan vice mayor bolts Lakas party

Caloocan City Vice Mayor Luis "Tito" Varela, long time ally and vice mayor for two terms of former mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, has decided to part ways with the latter and has bolted the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Party over its national leaders’ alleged mishandling of the Malonzo-Rosca row in the city council.

Varela tendered his resignation from the party, which he accused of doing nothing to check the former mayor’s arrogance and dictatorial attitude, among other things.

"I cannot swallow the blatant favoritism and injustice the national leadership is doing. It is now Lakas-Malonzo Party. I cannot be a member of this one-man party and... I am getting out," Varela said in his two-page letter addressed to House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Lakas national president.

"Please consider me resigned from the party upon receipt of this letter," Varela stated in his letter sent April 25 and received by the Lakas national headquarters last May 3.

This developed as Varela revealed a mass resignation from Lakas is being considered by other party members in the same council after the national party leadership allegedly showed partiality by appointing Malonzo’s son, Christopher, as replacement for the late Councilor Eduardo Rosca.

"While I believe that a mass resignation of Lakas party members is forthcoming, it is not because of my decision to leave the party, but due to the failure of the national leadership of the party to equitably resolve party problems in our chapter," Varela said.

He slammed the party leadership in its handling of the affairs and problems of the chapter, accusing them of accepting the former mayor’s recommendation without even verifying if it was the decision of the chapter and not of Malonzo alone.

"Honestly, I cannot understand why the entire national leadership of the party can be held hostage or be made subservient to the will of just one man in Caloocan City. Does Malonzo hold the monopoly of wisdom and political leadership in this city? I find this very insulting and utterly disappointing," Varela said.

Malonzo, for his part, said he can’t do anything about the councilor’s bolting the Lakas fold.

"Anyway, they (councilors) are only my creation. Nakuha na nila ang gusto nila sa akin, wala na ako naiaabot sa kanila kada hingi nila. Yun ang paraan nila ng pagbabayad ng utang na loob sa akin at sa party. That’s how I made them win the elections. Baka natalo sila noong araw pa kung di ganun ang ginawa ko. That’s the prize I get for helping them win," Malonzo said.

"Also thank them (for me) for insulting me on my birthday," said a bitter Malonzo in parting, who is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.

The city councilors accused the former mayor, who is still Lakas chairman in Caloocan, of unilaterally pushing for all and railroading the appointment of his son without properly consulting with the other party members on the matter.

The Lakas councilors preferred the appointment of Kristen Joy Rosca, the late councilor’s daughter, over the young Malonzo in a resolution passed subsequently asking President Arroyo and De Venecia to reconsider and recall the latter’s appointment.