Lakas ‘split’ snags bid of JDV?

CABANATUAN CITY — Deputy Speaker Carlos Padilla said over the weekend that the fragmentation of the ruling Lakas-NUCD could hurt the chances of comebacking former Speaker Jose de Venecia and boost his own bid for the speakership.

"Lakas has only 80 congressmen at fragmented pa kaya may tsansa tayo (and it’s fragmented so we have a chance)," Padilla, a congressman from Nueva Vizcaya said.

He said that the magic number to bag the speakership is 120 which, he said, could be mustered following the caucus between the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and the Liberal Party (LP).

"I’m placing myself at the disposal of the party," he said of the LDP which support he is courting to prop up his bid.

Padilla said that Rep. Agapito Aquino of Makati, LDP secretary-general, has already given way to him.

"If the party supports me, Butz is committed to support me all the way," he said.

The Nueva Vizcaya solon said he is confident that whoever fights De Venecia has good chances of winning.

"As for me, we want to give JDV a good fight," he said.

Last Friday, congressmen belonging to seven political parties formed a united front to oppose De Venecia’s return as Speaker.

The anti-De Venecia coalition includes 40 congressmen from Lakas, 37 from LDP, 23 from LP, five from Promdi, four from Reporma, three from Aksyon Demokratiko and two from the Nacionalista Party. — Manny Galvez