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CLARK
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Pampanga—Presidential Chief of
Staff Michael Defensor revealed on Wednesday the
formation of an arbitration committee to resolve the
conflict among administration allies in the
countryside.
Defensor
made the revelation in an interview following his speech
at the convention of the Philippine Association of Water
Districts (PAWD) National Convention at the Holiday Inn
Clark, where he was the keynote speaker.
“I have
already talked to [presidential political adviser] Gabby
Claudio. He said by next week, the arbitration committee
will be formed. There will be national and regional
level committees,” he said.
Defensor
said the arbitration committee will include Lakas, the
Liberal Party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition and
President Arroyo’s original party, the Kabalikat ng
Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).
The
formation of the arbitration committee was bared after
newsmen inquired if Malacañang is resolving the conflict
among administration allies in Pampanga.
One
particular issue is the expected contest for the
governorship between Gov. Mark Lapid and Board Member
Lilia “Baby” Pineda, both allies of Mrs. Arroyo.
“The
wish of everyone in the administration is to have a
solid slate and for Lapid and Pineda to reconcile. We
will help them unite. That’s the job of the political
committee in Malacañang and I know it will try to solve
the situation here in Pampanga,” Defensor said.
He
explained that there are similar situations in Bulacan,
Cavite, Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan, among
others, where there will be arbitration because the
parties belonging to the administration coalition will
nominate their own candidates.
“We have
situations in some parts of the country similar to
Pampanga, where there are both coalition and
administration candidates. So Secretary Gabriel Claudio
told me he will put up an arbitration committee so that
we will have a discussion as to who will be the
coalition candidates,” he said.
“The
arbitration committee will be put up to resolve the
different problems that we have. Of course we will have
to abide by the rules and the guidelines of the party in
nominating and in getting their candidates, particularly
for vacant posts because the equity of the incumbent is
more complicated and there are aspirants coming from
other positions,” Defensor explained.
He said
conflicts would be resolved based on guidelines that
will be issued.
“Political conflicts have to be resolved in a more
peaceful and harmonious manner,” he pointed out.
Defensor
said that as of now, the President is concerned about
governance and it is good that despite the elections,
her focus is on governance.
“Let the
parties decide conflicts in the arbitration process but
leave the President to governing. Let us not distract
her with the elections and the political fighting that
will be coming. Let’s try to keep the elections on the
basis of issues and policies and then after the
elections let’s move on rebuilding and unifying,” he
stressed.
“Even if
there is a coalition candidate, the parameters should be
clear for candidates to avoid conflicts. Of course in
our party in the administration, the national candidates
will not be affected,” he added. |
