This was gathered from Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr., LP secretary general, following reports that former Lakas-Kampi-CMD congressmen who have been taken in to the administration party are plotting to catapult Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. (SB) as top executive of President Aquino’s political party.

Belmonte used to be Lakas-Kampi vice president before abandoning the erstwhile dominant political party a few months before the May 2010 elections.

The speaker is a close family friend of President Aquino whom he supported in the recent elections.

Abaya is confident Roxas will not suffer the same fate as former Speaker Jose de Venecia who was overthrown as Lakas-Kampi president during a coup masterminded by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2008.

The plot to unseat Roxas as LP president was uncovered a few days before the currently most dominant political party in the country celebrates its 65th anniversary on Wednesday.

It was reported that Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol, former regional chairman of Lakas-Kampi and legal adviser of Rep. Arroyo, is behind the move to replace Roxas with Belmonte.

Abaya warned Apostol against using the media to address party concerns.

“Mar Roxas will remain as President. I foresee that direction,” stated Abaya, chairman of the powerful appropriations committee of the Lower House.

The Cavite lawmaker said he is planning to sit down with Apostol “because the logical thing to do among partymates is to sit down and discuss over coffee, not really go to media.”

Belmonte has reportedly declared he is not interested in Roxas’ position although it is believed that he can muster enough party support if he will join the plot to oust him.

Roxas still has the support of Aquino and “original” LP men but there had been an influx of former Lakas-Kampi men into the administration party that they can take over the leadership if moves to do it takes a serious turn.

Although there remains no immediate estimate as to the number of former Lakas-Kampi congressmen and local leaders in LP, it is believed that they have already comprised the majority as a result of the massive recruitment drive launched by Roxas and Aquino before and after the election period.

Lakas-Kampi men in LP are mockingly called “Lakas Pala” reportedly due to their continued loyalty to Arroyo.

Quezon City Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo, also an LP stalwart, said Abaya is correct in declaring that Roxas will continue to hold on to his position if he intends to.

Castelo confirmed reports that Belmonte will not make any attempt to get Roxas’ post.

But like Apostol, Castelo confirmed that new members of the LP who have been recruited by Belmonte are pushing the latter to take control of the party because of his ability to organize and strengthen the LP.

“Speaker Belmonte will not grab it if Sen. Mar still wants to be the LP President although Belmonte has recruited several representatives in his bid for the speakership last July. These new LP representatives are the ones convincing him to run.

I don’t see any fireworks because Belmonte will give way to Mar. There is no serious threat after Belmonte,” said Castelo.

Ben Rosario, Manila Bulletin