Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

FORMER President Fidel Ramos has a lot to say about the recent merger of the administration’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) with Lakas, saying that it was done with "undue haste." He feels that there is a reason why details about the merger were not presented to most of the Lakas members, and that it did not go through "proper consultation with all the party stakeholders."

Ramos, however, who is the chairman emeritus of Lakas and co-founder of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, believes that the merger should have been handled properly.

Hardly a week, the merged political powerhouse are said to be showing cracks. Some have even have said that disputes between members of the parties might result in the divorce. Former Speaker of the House and Lakas cofounder Jose De Venecia boldly predicted that the merged party would eventually collapse. He in fact, resigned as Lakas president emeritus on the eve of the merger.

It seems that the Philippine political machinery is working up on speed. We would like to believe that the merging of two strong political parties could help narrow down vote-worthy candidates for the 2010 elections, but then again being able to compromise, agree and work on a single ideology takes more than just a simple merger. The sad part is, the whole nation has witness politicians bicker with each other rather than try to be able to get along.

Whatever happens in the end, it is our hope that leaders of these two parties will remember the main reason why Lakas and Kampi were established—and that is, to serve the country and its people. (AJPress)

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on May 30, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A12 )