(Update) Arroyo endorses merger of Lakas, Kampi

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday officially endorsed the merger of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats administration party and that of her party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi). "Today I endorse the merger of Lakas CMD with Kampi," President Arroyo said in a speech during the national directorate meeting of Lakas-CMD held at Manila Hotel. "The merger of Lakas with Kampi will combine the talents and resources of two great political parties into a powerhouse team," Mrs Arroyo said. The President's endorsement came as ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr resigned as Lakas president and even turned down offers to serve as the party's president emeritus. Speaker Prospero Nograles is expected to succeed De Venecia as Lakas president. Mrs Arroyo said that in the last elections, thousands of Lakas-CMD officials won, including three senators, 96 members of the House, 41 governors, 38 vice governors, 67 city mayors, 49 vice mayors, 605 municipal mayors, 495 vice mayors, and a slew of governors, vice governors, city mayors and vice mayors, municipal mayors and vice mayors, provincial board members and city and municipal councilors. She said that with the merger, the administration party will be able to get an absolute majority of the House with 143 representatives. The number of their elected officials will also increase to five senators, 55 governors, 85 city mayors, 945 municipal mayors and over 7,000 vice governors, board members, vice mayors and councilors. "Together with our other coalition partners, our merged party can create the dominant support infrastructure that is a key to delivering the governance that that our people expects, our people deserves," the President said. Mrs Arroyo said the merging of Lakas-CMD and Kampi will be "a colossus that calls to mind Mahatir (Badawi) of Malaysia, whose decades-old dominant political machinery, supported by key business groups, provided the underpinning for Malaysia’s development." She believes her administration, that of former President Fidel Ramos, and her successor will be similar to Malaysia's Mahatir. "A composite of Ramos, Arroyo, and our successor will mean a two-decade period, 1992 to 2016, interrupted only by two and half years of (former President Joseph) Estrada, a two-decade period of political leadership by our coalition," she said. Strong economy She added that with the Lakas-Kampi merger, the administration's energies can be devoted to the strong and growing economy which is the central pillar the party has labored to create to help guarantee peace, order and stability in the country. "This is our motivation for getting up every day to work hard and focus like a laser beam to fix our economy. Our party has made tough and unpopular decisions to raise revenues and crack down on tax cheats so that we could invest in our physical infrastructure and in our people," she further said. The President said with the party's reinvigorated leadership and its members' continuing unity, they can remain bullish on the country, optimistic about the future and deeply committed to being a force for good. "I am humbled and grateful at having the privilege of serving this nation not only as President of the Philippines but also as chair of our great party Lakas-CMD," she said. She also urged Lakas members to "work hard together for the good of the nation and for our party’s victory in 2010." In her speech, Mrs Arroyo also thanked the Lakas officials "for being my steady allies. Thank you for sustaining our party’s eminent role in the life of the nation." Earlier in the day, Kampi stalwarts opposed the proposed merger with Lakas. Radio dzBB reported that Rep. Jose Solis said a merger would only disrupt the administration's coalition as members of both parties would jockey for position for favors from Malacañang. Solis said Rep. Luis Villafuerte, another Kampi stalwart, said that a merged Lakas and Kampi will "not be good" for members of either party. He said they would rather have members of the Lakas party leave and then transfer to Kampi. As of this posting, it was not known what were the sentiments of Solis and Villafuerte with regards to Mrs Arroyo’s endorsement of the merger. - GMANews.TV