October 6, 2003, The Manila Times, Loren: More to abandon Lakas ship, by Sammy Martin,

October 6, 2003, The Manila Times, Loren: More to abandon Lakas ship, by Sammy Martin, Correspondent

Sen. Loren Legarda, who resigned from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Party last week, said on Sunday that the administration party is on the brink of collapse as more members and leaders are poised to abandon a “sinking ship.”

Legarda, who is eyeing the vice-presidency, said she has received calls from congressmen, governors and mayors telling her they too were planning to leave Lakas.

“They also feel the big pressure that the boat is about to sink and they don’t want to be part of it,” she said.

But Legarda said she did not prod her former partymates to quit, even advising them to consult first with other party stalwarts.

“Some of our partymates have already committed themselves to former ambas­sador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco once he was chosen as the standard-bearer of the United Opposition, and this is an open secret,” Legarda said.

She predicts the exodus from Lakas to continue.

Legarda on Thursday quit Lakas, headed by President Arroyo, to become an in­dependent.

She said her decision to resign would give her the freedom to take a stand on raging issues unencumbered by partisan interests.

Her resignation had long been expected because she is widely believed to be eyeing the presidency, which apparently could not be accommodated by Lakas.

Legarda, former vice president for the Visayas of Lakas, had been mentioned as a possible running mate of Sen. Edgardo Angara when he still had not announced his decision not to seek the presidency; of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, an idea that tickled her fancy because it would be an “L na L ticket.”

After Legarda, Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. on Friday sprang a surprise by resigning as Lakas president and member, citing grievances over the government’s “deeply rooted corruption” and apparent failure to bring much-needed reforms.

Guingona, considered a driving force in Lakas, said he quit because he felt that President Arroyo had failed to carry out economic and social reforms, which she promised in her December 30, 2002, declaration.

He lamented Mrs. Arroyo’s clemency in prosecuting government officials and persons he said are allegedly involved in graft and corruption. Even in Lakas-CMD, he said, the personalities accused of corruption are ironically the same people holding important positions.