“WE will rebuild the LP from the grassroots,” presidential timber Vice-President Maria Leonor Gerona “Leni” Robredo was quoted as saying by Noel Medina, one of its organizers.
The Liberal Party, once at the helm of power during the 2010-2016 administration of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III, is not a spent force, yet, in fact it’s still kicking, according to one of its members, who did not identify himself.
It is now being reactivated by organizing at the grassroots level, apparently disregarding Bohol traditional politicians who are still at the different posts and rode on the popularity of Aquino.
In his lengthy talk, Noel Medina, a former activist and now Pasig City’s one of the LP organizers, said that politicians who are LPs before may come and go and as soon they in the power, they change color apparently for convenience.
For his part, Rodolfo “Kid” Caneda, also once an effective activist-community organizer during Martial Law, and now national LP lead organizer said that politicians cannot give attention to the party once they got elected into office.
Caneda and Medina, along with LP Visayas director Marino Fernan reoriented new faces, daughter and sons of former LP members in Bohol during the gathering at the Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City yesterday.
Among what may be considered as Liberals, who actively participated in the event were: Panglao incumbent councilor Atty. Dennis Hora, former vice-mayor Jadulco of Antequera, incumbent G-Hernandez town Vice-Mayor Miguelito Galendez, former Trinidad vice-mayor Leo Boncales, Vice-Mayor Nestor Abad of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, former Maribojoc Vice-Mayor Atty. Dodong Veloso, incumbent unopposed reelectionist Sikatuna lady Mayor Justiniana Ellorimo and her husband former Mayor Pangay Ellorimo, and municipal representatives.
Following the reorientation on the shift of approach in expanding and strengthening the LP, they took their oath as members of the party before Fernan.
Caneda said of what appeared to be the rebranding of the LP that the new regrouping of the party affiliates is now composed of former activists, like students, entrepreneurs, political and church workers and workers in the non-government organizations, people’s organizations, youth and others nationwide.
In a statement published in a broadsheet sometime last year, the new group of LP is pushing for “LENI Ang tanging Pag-asa” mantra.
LENI stands for Livelihood, Education, Nationalism and Integrity, the statement said.
The new LP group said that they rallied behind the candidacy of Robredo.
They said that they throw their support for Leni, who represents ideals of Filipino freedom, “to attain our dream of peaceful, progressive and dignified kind of life in society and governance.”
Leni’s runningmate is senator Kiko Pangilinan, husband of Sharon Cuneta.
Though Leni is running as independent, Caneda said, her line-up for senators include Ifugao congressman Baguilat, JV Ejercito, Leila Delima, Chel Diokno, Nery Colmenares, Risa Hontiverus and Alex Lacson.
During the gathering, T-shirts of Leni and her tarps, bearing her name and face were distributed to the newly sworn LP members. (rvo)
