More defections hit Lakas as Nograles eyes transfer to NP

(Update 3 - 3:17 PM) More defections have hit the Philippines' ruling party after one stalwart moved to a different political group while another — House Speaker Prospero Nograles — expressed his doubts about staying on, adding he may move to the Nacionalista Party (NP). Nograles, a key ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said he is seriously planning to bolt Lakas-Kampi-CMD, citing the party's leadership crisis that began when its standard-bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro quit as party chairman two weeks ago. Nograles, a member of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national advisory board, made this announcement in a press statement issued on Monday. On the same day, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II told reporters that he has quit from Lakas-Kampi and moved to the Liberal Party. Gonzales said he informed the party leadership last Friday and also notified Teodoro and President Arroyo, who is the party's President Emeritus. Gonzales said joining the LP was "just like going home," citing his late father's membership in the LP. "It's just a matter of time na sasama ako talaga sa kanila (Joining the LP was just a matter of time)," he added. "This is something I have to do because this is something I believe in." Gonzales said he had long considered leaving the ruling party but his decision to quit was solidified last week after finding out that Lakas-Kampi will campaign in his district. While he said he has nothing against the party "which has not done [me] anything wrong for the past 15 years," Gonzales said he wants to campaign for his real bets in the May polls. "It's not easy to leave your party…but let me state it very clearly that I am running unopposed," he said. "Hindi ko kailangan magpalit ng partido (I don't need to switch parties) if only to win an election." Nograles mulls move to NP Nograles, meanwhile, said he is mulling moving to Senator Manuel Villar Jr.'s NP. The move is a "viable option" after his political rival, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, endorsed LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. "Hilong-hilo na kami sa nangyayari sa partido (Things happening in the party have caught us in a daze). Even as a senior officer of the party, I hardly know what's happening because they make decisions without the courtesy of even briefing us," Nograles said. "Kahit man lang tawag sana para hindi naman kami nagugulat sa mga lalabas na balita kinabukasan (We would have appreciated a phone call so we wouldn't be caught off guard about news that would come out tomorrow). Now what's the use of being with the administration party? I don't even get any text saying hi or hello from our party standard bearer," he added. In considering his move to the NP, Nograles said: "I might and I might not (move to the NP). I'm getting adequate support from my supporters here in Davao, including many businessmen. We can run the campaign of Team Nograles without any help from any party." "But I think that Manny Villar is a viable option because of his non-association with those involved in human rights violations in Davao City," he said, obviously referring to Duterte, who has been accused of favoring extrajudicial killings to curb criminal activity in the city. Nograles irked by not being invited to meeting Nograles added he was not even invited to last week's party meeting regarding the resignations of Teodoro and Miguel Dominguez as party chairman and president, respectively. "I'm a senior party member and they only want to use me for their convenience? I think that is foul. I have been a good soldier but I also deserve some respect," he said. Nograles led Charter change moves in the House of Representatives, including the passage of House Resolution 1109 which calls on Congress to convene into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. Nograles is seeking to become Davao City mayor in the May polls. The southern city is site of extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the so-called Davao Death Squad. Nograles' camp has accused the Duterte administration of being behind the summary executions, which the Duterte camp is denying. Malacañang, for its part, said it was saddened over Nograles’s decision and urged on newly-installed Lakas-Kampi chairman Amelita Villarosa to exert extra effort to ensure that the party is intact. "Again, inaasahan po natin na ginagampanan po ng mabuti ang trabaho ng leadership ng administration party na panatilihing buo ng kanilang organisasyon at panatilihin at pagpatuloy ang suporta kay Sec. Teodoro," deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said in a report aired over radio dzMM. (We are expecting that the party leadership do its job well to ensure that it remains solid and united behind Sec. Teodoro.) In the meantime, Deputy House Speaker and newly-installed Lakas-Kampi-CMD chair Amelita Villarosa said the party leaders would discuss Nograles' planned defection. "We will meet and come out with a statement," she said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. She likewise stood unfazed over a possibility that Teodoro's campaign would suffer a big dent without Nograles' support. "We have 170 congressmen supporting Gibo [Teodoro]. With Nograles out, there are still 169. That's still many," she said. Mike Toledo, Teodoro's spokeperson, could not be reached for his comment as of posting time. - with Sophie Regina M. Dedace, Aie Balagtas See/ RSJ/ RJAB Jr./KBK, GMANews.TV