Serge Osmeña leaves Noynoy-Mar camp, bolts LP

11/19/2009

Former Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña, named by the Liberal Party as one of its top senatorial bets, yesterday reportedly left the camp of LP standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and his running mate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas on alleged disagreements grounded on “principles” of “moral leadership” and “new politics” bandied about by the Aquino-Roxas tandem in their campaign.

A source close to Osmeña

told the Tribune yesterday that the former senator will still be seeking a Senate seat, but will be running as an independent.

Tribune tried getting in touch with Osmeña for confirmation of his bolting the LP, but to no avail.

Other Tribune sources said it was the Noynoy-Mar tandem’s invitation of, and acceptance by, the former Sen. and Neda chief Ralph Recto and his wife, Batangas Gov. Vilma-Santos Recto into the LP fold.

There were early reports that within the LP, there was already grumbling among party members on the move of Aquino and Roxas in getting the Rectos to be in the LP election slate.

Some of the members were quoted by LP insiders as saying that the LP tandem, which promises new politics and “moral” and “clean” leadership cannot take the high ground in the campaign when it brings into the party fold, politicians who were allied with the Arroyo administration, and who did nothing to denounce the corruption in President Arroyo’s government.

It will also be recalled that a cousin of Sen. Serge Osmena, former Sen. John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, was also at odds with Recto over the expanded VAT law, which was authored by Recto.

Sonny Osmeña’s ads in 2007 senatorial elections focused on Recto’s eVAT and how it brought more misery to the Filipino people.

It was not known whether the Cebu Osmeñas will still be supporting the Noynoy-Roxas team in the Visayas.

The Rectos were taken aboard by the LP during the National Directorate meeting of the LPs where Aquino and Roxas accepted the nominations.

It was also announced during the meeting a few days ago that the Rectos have left Lakas-Kampi and the Nacionalista Party and joined up with the LP, with the announcement by Aquino that Recto will be one of its senatorial candidates.

Without confirming the bolting of Osmeña, campaign manager of Senator Aquino said the LP “is in the process of looking into of the reservations of Senator Osmeña.”

It was also said by other sources in the LP that Osmeña could not take the idea of his being in the same campaign with candidates who were known to be allies and defenders of Arroyo and with him endorsing them.

For the moment, Abad said, the LP will not issue any comment on this matter.

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