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(July 16,
2007/ Manila)
The Supreme
Court has ruled “with finality” that former Senate President
Franklin Drilon remained the legitimate president of the Liberal
Party (LP), junking a motion for consideration filed by former
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza appealing the tribunal’s decision on
the case three months ago.
In an en
banc resolution dated July 5, 2007, the Supreme Court “resolved
to deny with finality” the motion for reconsideration filed by
Atienza’s lawyers “there being no substantial arguments to
warrant the reversal of the questioned resolution.” A copy of
the SC resolution was obtained by the LP over the weekend.
"With this
final and executory decision of the Supreme Court, it is now
imperative that we put this unfortunate party controversy behind
us. This SC decision put to rest all illegitimate claims to the
party leadership and pave the way for long-awaited reunification
of the Liberal Party, “Drilon said. “A huge challenge awaits us
in 2010. We can not fail the Filipino people’s aspiration for
reform and good governance."
"Again, the LP salutes the Supreme Court for upholding the rule
of law and the right of political parties to free association.
We are confident the LP members will always uphold the public
interest and shun the long-discredited ‘traditional politics of
patronage,’” Drilon added.
It will be
recalled that on April 17, the High Tribunal, with the vote of
9-5, issued a resolution overturning an earlier Commission on
Elections (Comelec) recommendation that the Drilon leadership
failed to show evidence that the 1992 Party Constitution (Salonga
Constitution) was properly ratified.
In its April
decision, the high court upheld Drilon's position that the
Salonga Constitution of the LP has been amended under which his
election as party president was legal and that his term would
have ended on Nov. 30, 2007.
In effect,
the High Tribunal ruling put an end to the long-drawn leadership
controversy in the country's second oldest political party by
stripping Atienza of the bogus title of LP president.
It will be
recalled that Atienza tried to wrestle the party leadership
through a rump LP elections at the Manila Hotel on March 2, 2006
with the prodding of Malacanang after the LP officers led by
Drilon withdrew their support from the administration of
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on July 8, 2005, shortly after
the “Hello Garci” election fraud scandal broke out.
Drilon’s
lawyers led by Fred Asis elevated the case before the Supreme
Court after the Comelec ruled that Drilon's term as LP president
has already expired and called for the holding of elections.
Drilon maintained that under the ratified Salonga constitution,
his term should end in November 2007 and not in July 2005 as
alleged by the Atienza breakaway faction. Drilon assumed the
party presidency after former LP president Florencio Abad was
appointed education secretary.
The LP
leadership dispute surfaced after the Comelec, on Oct. 13, 2006,
upon the petition of Drilon, invalidated the March 2006 rump
elections that illegally installed Atienza as party president
and defeated administration candidate, then Malacanang chief of
staff, Mike Defensor as party chairman.
Although the
Comelec had ruled in favor of Drilon, it held however that he
would only serve as LP president in a holdover capacity since he
was elected to serve the unfinished term of Abad pursuant to the
Salonga Constitution. Following this, the Comelec had ordered an
intra-party election for a new set of officers. The Comelec said
that Drilon was not able to prove that the Salonga Constitution
was duly amended in 1999 and 2003, prompting Drilon's group to
elevate the case to the Supreme Court.
On March
2006, the LP National Political Council passed a resolution
declaring that Atienza, then Presidential Chief of Staff and
defeated senatorial candidate Mike Defensor, Antique Gov. Sally
Perez, Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Cast-Abayon and former
Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez are "deemed resigned from the
Liberal Party for convening and holding the unauthorized
assembly of LP leaders and the election of renegade officers on
2 March 2006 at the Manila Hotel." |
