The truth about the Liberal Party – Perez

I am writing you to correct some misconceptions on the 29 Nov. 2007 column of Mr. Billy Esposo entitled, “Maybe, Lito Atienza should just join KAMPI” in your paper.

First, it is not true that they invited Sec. Lito Atienza, as Chairman of the LP or as guest. It is true that several LP-Atienza Wing members received invitations, but surely if Drilon’s cabal was genuine in their public statements for reconciliation, how could they give an invitation to Mrs. Beng Atienza, the president of the LP Ladies, yet not invite her husband LP Chairman Sec. Lito Atienza.

As for Atienza’s position as LP Chairman, the Supreme Court was clear in its decision: that the status quo of the LP leadership be preserved. The SC only decided on three issues regarding the LP leadership crisis: whether the COMELEC had jurisdiction over the case; which by-laws of the LP was the rightful one, and; whether the COMELEC could supervise an election of LP officers.

In its decision to recognize the “Daza-Drilon” constitution of the LP, the SC did affirm the term of office of Drilon as President, but so is Atienza as Chairman and all the other officers and members of the National Executive Council (NECO) as enumerated in the 60th anniversary program that both sides admitted as Common Exhibit to the COMELEC and the Supreme Court. And therefore should have been the basis for determining who would comprise the NECO.

Instead, Drilon, Abad, Asis and others of their cabal twisted the decisions of the COMELEC and the Supreme Court, taking only the provisions that favored them to keep the LP under their dictatorial thumbs, they change the officers, pad the members of the NECO with their supporters, disqualified many of Atienza’s supporters and excluded many of our newly-elected Governors and City Mayors who should be automatic members of the NECO, like Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat, Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, Isabela City Mayor Cherrylin Akbar and Trece Martires City Mayor Melvin Sagun to name a few.

Regarding their non-invitation of LP-Atienza congressmen like Quezon City’s Mat Defensor as a member of the NECO, this is sheer balderdash. The invitation they sent Cong. Mat addressed him as “Chairman, Media and Relations Commission.” A cursory look at pre-split LP records will show that this refers to the position held by Cong. Mat as head of one of the six LP constitutional commissions, the Media and Public Relations Commission. And during the roll call he was mentioned as NECO member, along with Cong. Danny Suarez, Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen and Councilor Melvin Macusi. But when Rep. Mat Defensor started to question the proceedings, he was told to his face by Neric Acosta that he was just a guest. The others were treated similarly.

Those of us who were indeed invited as part of the NECO, like DENR Undersecretary Eli Quinto and Asec. Angel Saldivar, were treated little better than “guests.” In fact, when they counted even the “guests” for the quorum and our people raised their hands to question the roll call, they were disregarded. Later on when Usec. Eli inquired on who are the NECO members, Drilon told him he was out of order and should have asked it during the Roll. Usec. Eli countered that his question was relevant in the approval of the Agenda and the need to resolve the real status of those mentioned in the roll call but were now considered as guests.

And what about the assertion that other LP-Atienza congressmen who ran under other political parties fall under a “gray area”? If that is the case, how come Ronnie Cosalan and Mac Lanto, who ran under KAMPI in the 2007 elections and lost, were recognized as members of the NECO? Is it because they are supporters of Drilon?

We had a caucus of LP leaders last Nov. 19, 2007, and aside from affirming their full support for Atienza as Chairman, many explained that the resolution they signed in support of Mar Roxas was not about a capitulation to the Drilon group, but as a gesture of goodwill to Mar that we are genuine in our desire to see the Party reunited.

Instead, our noble intentions are warped and used against us.

Let me assure Mr. Esposo that we are prepared to back up our statements with documentary evidence, like the invitation to Cong. Mat and statements from our allies that would disprove the lies of Abad and Asis.

Drilon and his cabal have misrepresented the LP since July 8, 2005 and continue to peddle their lies. They even accuse us of being the minority in the Party when it is common knowledge that the Atienza Wing is the majority. If they were bigger, why didn’t Drilon convene the NECO immediately after July 8, 2005, so the question of the legality of their call for PGMA to step down would have been resolved immediately and totally?

I also wish to express my outrage at Esposo’s calling Usec. Eli Quinto a “super alalay” of Sec. Atienza. Usec. Eli is one of the most reliable and longest-serving officers of the LP. He founded the LP’s youth wing in 1989 and was the LP’s longest-serving Director General. He was recognized as “Outstanding Living Liberal” during the LP’s golden anniversary, and interestingly enough, Drilon himself and the leaders of the Party feted Eli during the 59th anniversary for his 17 years of outstanding service to the LP.

We do not begrudge Mr. Esposo’s right to speak his mind, only that he does not subsume the Truth to his own agenda. He styles himself a member of Media but he’s becoming a propagandist for the likes of Drilon. Even opinions have to be based on truths, not a twisting of them for one’s own benefit and/or agenda.

Finally, just a word to Mar: you know the truth on how big our wing is. The last thing you would want is for us to join KAMPI. This is not holding you hostage, my dear Mar, but a telling of a truth. I hope you will take it as such. —  SALLY ZALDIVAR-PEREZ, Antique Governor