Drilon wing 'kicks out' Atienza, Defensor from LP

Senate President Franklin Drilon claimed Friday that Manila mayor Lito Atienza and the latter's allies in the Liberal Party leadership have been removed from the organization's roster. Drilon said Atienza, Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Rep. Harlin Cast Abayon (1D, Northern Samar) and Batangas Gov. Arman Sanchez are among the party officials who are now considered resigned. The Senate president said his alleged erstwhile partymates conspired to stage a coup d' etat against him. Senator Francis Pangilinan was tapped to replace Atienza as LP national chairman. Cracks within the Liberal Party (LP), the second oldest political country in the country, started showing after the Drilon's group ditched President Arroyo and joined calls for her resignation on July 8, 2005. Even then, Atienza, Defensor and their allies refused to withdraw their support to the president. Instead, they remained loyal to the government and kept civil relations with the Drilon faction. The schism within the party heated up again last March 2 after Atienza and Defensor machinated an impromptu election at the Manila Hotel and booted Drilon out of the party leadership. Atienza was elected new party president and Defensor was named party chairman. Atienza called for the "snap election" after a conference on local governance attended by local LP members and Manila City Hall employees was converted into a national assembly. The Drilon wing refused to acknowledge the Atienza election and insisted the "snap" polls was illegal because only the "legitimate" party president could convene a national assembly and call for elections. Drilon stressed he could not be ousted "by a bunch of Manila barangay captains and city hall employees."-GMANews.TV