Osmeña 'no-show' at LP slate launch

by KRIS BAYOS (Manila Bulletin)
http://mb.com.ph/articles/240572/osme-a-noshow-lp-slate-launch

Senator Sergio Osmena III Wednesday boycotted the formal launching of the Liberal Party's 12-man senatorial slate for the May 2010 national elections where he is a guest candidate.

Osmena was absent during the LP's concert treat for students and professors of the Philippine Normal University in Manila Wednesday even if he is part of the party's senatorial lineup. In fact, the initial of his surname is part of the slate's mnemonic slogan "SLAMAT LORRRD."

Claiming that their pro-change slate is a God sent, "SLAMAT LORRRD" stands for LP's Sonia Roco, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Neric Acosta, Martin Bautista, Alex Lacson, TG Guingona, Yasmin Busran-Lao, Serge Osmena, Ruffy Biazon, Ralph Recto, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Franklin Drilon.

Unlike Lim, who is still detained and was represented by his wife Aloy and daughter Aika, Osmena has sent nobody to speak for him at the slate launch where Recto will be present.

Osmena was reportedly thinking about breaking away from the LP senatorial slate because of Recto's entry but according to Rep. Biazon, that is far from happening anymore.
"In principle, Senator Osmena is with the LP. He agrees with the principles that the LP is espousing, he agrees with the candidacy of Senators Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas. And so far, he has never issued a denial or a disclaimer against his inclusion to our slate so that for me is something that the public can hold onto. If he has the intention to quit our slate, he should have done so way before this launch," Biazon said.

Biazon disclosed Osmena has decided to campaign independently from the LP slate and has organized his own provincial sorties.

"Senator Osmena thinks that what is suited for him is to campaign independently from our slate. He said he cannot campaign on stage with somebody that he was in disagreement in the past. But on a personal level, he has no problem with Senator Recto," he said.

But despite the Osmena-Recto rift, Biazon said the slate remains united to pursue LP's promise of a corrupt-free government.

"As far as the LP is concerned, we want to work with Senator Osmena. While we acknowledge the dynamics within the LP, we are still focused on the same objectives and that is what makes us strong as a party.

"It doesn't matter if he is not campaigning with us. What matters is that we have compatible platforms of government with him," he added.

As for Recto, Biazon said the former senator also accepted and respected Osmena's decision being a "team player" himself