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(April 17,
2007/
Manila,
Philippines)
The Supreme
Court on Tuesday ruled that Sen. Franklin Drilon remains the
president of the Liberal Party, which ran counter to a
Commission on Elections recommendation that the Drilon wing
failed to show evidence that the 1992 LP Constitution (Salonga
Constitution) had been ratified.
With a vote of 9-5, the court said the amended Salonga
Constitution extended Drilon’s term to November 2007.
In the same resolution, the court maintained that the resolution
of intra-party disputes falls under the jurisdiction of COMELEC.
COMELEC earlier ruled that Drilon's term as LP president has
already expired and called for the holding of elections to end
the leadership vacuum in the country’s oldest political party.
Drilon lauded the high tribunal's decision as a "vindication"
for the legitimate leadership of LP.
"We feel vindicated. We are elated by the Supreme Court decision
upholding the legitimate leadership of the Liberal Party and we
hope this will signal the long-awaited reunification of the
second oldest political party of the country," he said in a
statement.
"We salute the Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law and
the right of independent political parties to free association.
We have always maintained that in the end, the rule of law will
prevail over unscrupulous political maneuverings by those who
seek to exploit the party for selfish, personal interests other
than the collective well-being of its members," he added,
Drilon earlier said that under the ratified Salonga
constitution, his term should end in November 2007 and not in
July 2005 as claimed by the LP faction of Manila Mayor Lito
Atienza. Drilon assumed the party presidency after former LP
president Florencio Abad was appointed education secretary.
Drilon has challenged Atienza's authority after the Manila mayor
was elected LP president at a so-called "rump elections" in
March 2006.
The court decision is expected to pave the way for the
designation of LP as one of six major political parties in the
May 14 polls, entitling it to a copy of election returns and the
right to field watchers and inspectors
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