LP in-house Comelec squabble a victory no less for Armada's 'Atienza-wing'
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may have declared the Liberal Party election's "(Lito) Atienza-wing" to be null and void yet for top Atienza man, Iloilo Vice Governor Roberto "Obet" Armada, it remains a "win-win" situation for them.
Not true, too, Armada clarified, that it spelled victory for the faction under Senator Franklin Drilon whom he said, was never elected into his supposed LP "presidency".
The "win-win" there, the vice governor added, is Comelec's decision to hold an LP election on November 13th, which Armada said his group are already preparing for. If Drilon's camp is to be considered though, no elections is in the offing with an appeal immediately made against holding of the November party polls.
In an interview with Capitol reporters, Armada said he will personally abide and is committed to respect election results as he quipped, "what about them in Drilon's camp? Are they going to do the same?" His sentiments, he continued, is shared by the rest of the Atienza-wing partymates.
"We will dare them to do just that as we stick it out with the LP," Vice Governor Armada ended.
The LP here in Iloilo is supposed to have the support of 21 mayors and at least 150 councilors who all remain to be LP-card bearing members.
Drilon's name has since been flaunted as possible opponent of incumbent Lone District Congressman Raul Gonzalez, Jr. This, alongside the designed team up of former number one City Councilor Joshua Alim as yet another contender for the congressional post with former and comebacking Iloilo City Mayor Mansueto Malabor and former councilor, lawyer Vicente "Benjie" Gengos.
Drilon-Malabor-Gengos? Or Alim-Malabor-Gengos? A lot more changes in store as the local LP here awaits development on the in-house party squabble.