By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, May 23 (PNA) — Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas on Saturday said Liberal Party (LP) maintains openness on all possible scenarios to make sure that it remains the party in power after 2016.
Trenas, chair of the LP’s organizing and membership committee, said that talks of a possible Mar Roxas- Grace Poe or a Poe-Roxas tandem in 2016 were all speculations at this time but LP’s main concern at this point was not on who should be carrying the LP banner but who among the candidates had the qualities and the commitment to pursue the programs and reforms that were started by President Aquino.
“LP is a platform-centered party. LP will not endorse any candidate just because he/she is popular. Our objective is not just to win an election but to ensure that our ideals and our vision for the country is vigorously pursued just like what President Aquino has been doing for the past 5 years,” Trenas said.
“We will definitely support a candidate who would ensure continuity on the reforms and programs that were put into place by President Aquino. We need at least two more terms so that the nation can fully benefit from the fruits of reforms that were carried out by this administration,” Trenas said.
He said that although some LP members were supporting Poe as LP’s possible standard-bearer, a majority of the party members were rooting for Roxas because apart from being a true-blue LP member, his commitment to pursue President Aquino’s reform agenda was also beyond question.
He noted however that this disagreement among party members as to who should be supported by LP in the 2016 presidential polls was not enough to cause a party split-up because the party had a well-placed process in selecting its candidates.
“We can disagree but at the end of the day, we will decide as one party and embrace the decision of the majority,” the veteran lawmaker stressed.
He said that President Aquino will definitely have an influence as to who will be supported by LP but even his decision will have to be approved by the LP members.
“Definitely, President Aquino’s personal decision on who to support in 2016 will carry a lot of weight on LP’s decision-making process but it is premature to be drawing conclusions at this time. The president has to make his decision first before the party can make appropriate decision. Anything is possible at this time but definitely, LP will remain intact and it will remain very solid even after 2016,” Trenas pointed out. (PNA)