Ping: Lakas 'open' to alliance with opposition

Facing a serious threat from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's party, the ruling Lakas party has given an "initial positive reaction" to Sen. Panfilo Lacson's invitation to ally with the opposition. Appearing at the weekly Senate forum Thursday, Lacson said people "very close" to former President Fidel Ramos relayed such response to him. Lacson, however, did not identify the "people close to Ramos" he was referring to. "They are not shutting the doors to the possibility of a coalition. They developed an open mind and to me, this is a positive reaction. Before, they would not do this because at the time they had not realized that Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino is raiding and undermining them," he said in Filipino. When asked if the reaction of Lakas representatives was tantamount to an attitude of "Why not?," Lacson said, "It's a little more than that." He added he will take up the matter with the Genuine Opposition (GO) once he gets a "clear indication to pave the way for a coalition with Lakas." "The mechanics are something else. I myself cannot imagine how this will come about but there are initial positive reactions from people close to Lakas leadership," he said. Lacson said Kampi is now raiding Lakas' ranks because it is no longer as comfortable now with Lakas having leadership in the House. Earlier, he said Kampi is aiming to have an "ironclad" control of the Lower House to thwart any impeachment bid against President Arroyo, even if it means stabbing House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr's back. "They are not sending a message, they are stabbing his back. And it takes a non-Lakas member to tell them or to see through what they are doing to Lakas ... They have already used him... even FVR," he said. Incidentally, it was Ramos and De Venecia who came to Mrs Arroyo's rescue at the height of the "Hello, Garci" controversy in July 2005, when various sectors called for the President's resignation. Lacson added that when Mrs Arroyo failed to deliver on her promise of Charter change, she and her Kampi felt Lakas may get back at them after the May 14 elections. "Now probably the Kampi stalwarts realize pwede silang balikan, so slowly but surely they are marginalizing Lakas in many localities. And this is actually happening (The Kampi stalwarts feel Lakas may get back at them so slowly but surely they are marginalizing Lakas in many localities and this is actually happening)," he said. "They (Lakas) should wake up to the reality there is an effort to marginalize and weaken Lakas as a political party, and make Kampi the dominant admin party in the next Congress. And the sooner they realize it, the better," he added. - GMANews.TV