Erice to members not supporting Mar: Leave LP

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice on Monday dared Liberal Party members who will not be supporting their standard bearer Mar Roxas to resign from the party amid reports that some have jumped ship to support Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's presidential bid.

“Nananawagan ako kung may Liberal Party members na susuportahan ang ibang kandidato, dapat magbitiw na sa LP dahil ang isa sa sinumpaan namin bilang myembro ng LP ay ipanalo ang aming mga kandidato,” Erice told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the LP and COOP NATCCO for a partnership in the 2016 polls.

COOP NATCCO party-list Rep. Cresente Paez is part of the LP senatorial slate. Roxas and LP campaign manager, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., were also present during the ceremony.

But Erice, who acts as LP spokesperson and chairman on electoral and political affairs, said that at present, they have not heard of any formal announcement of support for other candidates from within their ranks. 

Still, Erice said resigning from the party would be the best move for those who cannot follow their orders.

“Of course as a leader, politician, and gentleman, kung hindi nila kayang sundin yung kanilang sinumpaan dapat na magbitiw na siguro sila sa LP,” he said.

He added that LP has other members who could take the place of other leaders.

“Marami naman kaming leaders sa Mindanao,” he said.

He believed that the reported talks are just preliminaries. “Baka siguro mga preliminary talks pero, sabi ko nga ito ay mga loose talks pa lang, wala pang definite.”

Earlier in the day, Roxas downplayed the supposed defection of their members in Mindanao.

"Malaya naman ang bawat mamamayan na piliin kung sino at kanino sila papanig so okay naman ang lahat," Roxas told reporters after the inauguration of the Bistekville 1 Multi-Purpose Hall in Payatas, Quezon City.

Not a good decision

Nonetheless, Erice said it would not be a good decision to jump out of LP to support other candidates.

“Being a politician, I don’t think that is a good political decision. Kung ako bilang isang lider, hihintayin ko muna maging clear lahat, sabi ko nga hindi natin alam kung tutuloy si Mayor Duterte o hindi, valid ba talaga yung kanyang kandidatura o hindi,” he said.

He added: “Nasa kutson na sila, lilipat pa sila sa banig.”

When asked if there is a need to conduct a loyalty check, Erice answered in the negative.

“Hindi naman kailangan e. Sanay na tayo diyan sa laro ng pulitika. After January, when the campaign starts, sa palagay ko dun natin makikita,” he said.

Further, Erice said that reports on jumping ship are just political propaganda.

“During the announcement of Sen. Grace Poe, sinabi na maraming LP na magda-jump ship, wala naman. Ngayon din sabi nila maraming LP ang pupunta kay Duterte pero wala namang significant number o name na sinasabi nila,” he said.

“Political propaganda lang ito kasi alam mo yung partido nila mabibilang mo sa daliri yung myembro, e kami nahihirapan kami na i-monitor dahil thousands of members e,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News