LP has no hand in cases vs Espino, Garcia

This refers to a letter titled “A leaderless LP?” (Inquirer, 1/4/13).

The Liberal Party is not in any way involved in the filing of criminal cases against Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino or the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. The cases against Espino were lodged by a Pangasinan town mayor who sought the assistance and protection of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. In the case of Cebu, the suspension of Governor Garcia was issued by the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government was directed to implement it.

In both cases, the actions of Secretary Roxas are consistent with the authority, responsibility and mandate of his office. Refusal to act on such cases would have been tantamount to dereliction of duty, if not outright insubordination and refusal to uphold the rule of law.

It is clear that the LP is not in any way involved in what malicious quarters have called opposition-bullying.

President Aquino remains the leader of the LP, but he is firmly focused on fulfilling his mandate and in performing his duties for the greater good of the Filipino people.

The current political infighting in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, over which the letter-sender tried to build his argument, is in fact our best proof to refute the allegations of political bullying.

If, indeed, the LP wants to use its position as party in power to bully those from the opposition, then Muñoz Mayor Efren Alvarez would not be in power right now. Alvarez is facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, for which he has been twice convicted.

When the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against him, the mayor disappeared from public sight, which prompted Gov. Aurelio Umali, an LP member, to swear into office the vice mayor, also an LP member, to prevent disruption in the office of the mayor.

Alvarez has since sought legal relief from the Supreme Court and the Sandiganbayan, which lifted the arrest warrant against him, allowing him to reassume his post.

We in the party respect the decisions of the court. This is called the rule of law. This is what the LP stands for.—REP. MEL SARMIENTO, secretary general, Liberal Party