The failure of the Liberal Party has prompted its members to leave then ruling political party and join the dominant Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of President Rodrigo Duterte.
A House official who refused to be named said the former ruling party led by former President Benigno Aquino III is now in “disarray again” overthe alleged failure of the party leaders to keep its membership intact.
“There is a total absence of leadership [in the LP] and so many of its members are moving to [President Duterte’s PDP-Laban]. If this is not addressed, then the party may end up losing its members,” the lawmaker said.
From 32 members, the LP is now reduced to 27 after Reps. Ansaruddin Adiong (Lanao del Sur), Nancy Catamco (North Cotabato), Alfred Vargas III (Quezon City), Winnie Castelo (Quezon City), and Geraldine Roman (Bataan) joined the PDP-Laban last week.
As far as House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas is concerned, what is happening to the LP may cost the seat of its member,
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato as member of the Commission on Appointments.
Fariñas said a political party needs at least 24 members to retain the seat of their party-mate, Sato to the CA.
Fariñas confirmed that Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia and Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, both LP members, are also eyeing to join the PDP-Laban anytime soon as the two lawmakers have sent feelers to him about their transfer to the administration party.
De Venecia is the son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who was appointed by Duterte as special envoy for inter-cultural dialogue recently.
Another House source said that the young De Venecia may take his oath as a member of PDP-Laban during the planned road trip of House leaders to Northern Luzon to inspect roads and bridges aimed at promoting tourism.
“Since December, attempts to raid LP members have been intensified. The appointment of former Speaker De Venecia to the Duterte government will speak for itself,” the source said, referring to the young De Venecia who will soon leave LP.
While he did not name names, Fariñas said many politicians will take their oath as members of PDP-Laban during their road trip.
“We expect new PDP-Laban to take their oath as new party members along the way during our road trip,” Fariñas said.
But Fariñas denied that PDP-Laban has been raiding LP members as he pointed out that they are the ones applying to join the ruling party.
“There was no such thing. The LP members are the ones applying to the PDP-Laban,” Fariñas said. “Whoever is the President, there is the gravitation of politicians.”