LIBERAL PARTY PICKS GMA, DE CASTRO AS OFFICIAL STANDARD BEARERS

MANILA, January 5, 2004 (STAR) The Liberal Party formally adopted last night President Arroyo and Sen. Noli de Castro as its official candidates for president and vice president respectively.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, who just joined the LP recently and chairs the party's national executive committee, said the LP is also formally entering into a coalition with the administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Drilon also said that new LP member Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and former Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas will be among the coalition's senatorial candidates.

"We went through a process wherein all presidential candidates presented their government programs. President Arroyo and Noli de Castro basically address the same issues that the LP has. Based on the process we went through, we are confident that we would be able to strengthen our party as a principled party not only in the year 2004 elections but also in 2007," Drilon said.

For his part, LP vice chairman Sen. Francis Pangilinan announced that Representatives Abraham Mitra, Raffy Biazon, Ricky Sandoval and Rolando Andaya Jr. also took their oath of membership with the LP.

Pangilinan said there are at least 26 other local government officials composed of mayors and governors who took their oath as LP members.

On the other hand, LP president and Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad said that the formal oath-taking of all the governors and mayors who had just joined the LP will be on Jan. 19, the party's founding anniversary. Pangilinan said the LP decided to adopt Mrs. Arroyo and De Castro as their standard-bearers because of "experience in governance, competence and integrity."

The administration coalition now is composed of Lakas-CMD, LP and some individuals from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., he said.

For his part, LP vice president for Luzon Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of Tarlac said that the LP chose Mrs. Arroyo over former education secretary Raul Roco because they believe she could effect unity in the ranks of the administration party.

"President Arroyo has exerted effort to effect unity in the coalition of the administration while Roco appeared not inclined to effect such unity," Aquino said.

Aquino expressed apprehension that if they adopt Roco as their standard-bearer, the latter will just undermine the programs and principles the LP has pursued.

Aquino added that his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, will not be campaigning for any of the presidential candidates.

"She will just make rounds everywhere to pray for a peaceful and honest elections. She earlier said she can only campaign for me," Aquino said.

Leaders of the LP were expected to meet with President Arroyo at 10 p.m. yesterday to personally inform her of the LP's choice of standard-bearer and vice presidential candidate.

Aside from LP leaders Drilon, Pangilinan, Abad and Aquino, also in attendance at last night's LP meeting were LP executive vice president Lito Atienza, LP vice president for NCR and Housing Secretary Michael Defensor, LP vice president for Mindanao Rep. Nereus Acosta, LP vice president for sectors Rep. Danton Bueser, LP secretary-general Rep. Rodolfo Bacani, among others.