Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Fidel V. Ramos (1991–1998) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (1998–2008) |
| Founder |
|
| Founded |
|
| Dissolved | June 18, 2008 (merged intoLakas–Kampi–CMD) |
| Merger of |
|
| Split from | Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino |
| Merged into | Lakas–Kampi–CMD |
| Ideology | Conservatism Christian democracy Islamic democracy Neoliberalism Historical underPGMA: Thaksinomics[1] |
| Political position | Centre-right[2][3] |
| National affiliation |
|
| International affiliation | Centrist Democrat International |
| Colors | |
Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (transl. People Power–Christian Muslim Democrats),[c] shortened asLakas–CMD, with being abbreviated and popularly known asLakas, was apolitical party in thePhilippines. Its ideology and that of its successor is heavily influenced byChristian andIslamic democracy. The party's influence onPhilippine society is very strong, especially after thePeople Power Revolution, which has led the country to elect two presidents from the party, namelyFidel V. Ramos, aUnited Methodist, andGloria Macapagal Arroyo, aRoman Catholic.
In May 2009, Lakas–CMD merged with Arroyo'sKabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino, thereby being known asLakas Kampi CMD, a completely new entity. In May 2012, Lakas Kampi CMD renamed itself again as Lakas–CMD after the separation of KAMPI.
In November 1991, formerNational Defense SecretaryFidel V. Ramos joined theLaban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) in order to gain its support for his 1992 presidential bid. LDP was held to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates for1992. After losing the presidential nomination to LDP co-founder and House SpeakerRamon Mitra, Ramos bolted the said party and organized theUnited People Power Movement (UPPM) with thenPangasinanRepresentativeJose de Venecia Jr., an LDP member. The new organization was officially namedPartidoLakas ng Tao (orLakas ngEDSA) and formally launched on January 3, 1992, at theClub Filipino inGreenhills, San Juan. The name origin of the party is to campaign that Ramos is a hero of the 1986 EDSA People Power, and being an anti to thetrapo (traditional politician).[4]
Upon de Venecia's initiative, Ramos merged Lakas ng Tao with theNational Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD), a cluster of the defunctProgressive Party led by former SenatorRaul Manglapus, to formLakas–National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas–NUCD). Some of LDP members were raided by Ramos and De Venecia to join their newly-formed party, which LDP co-founderPeping Cojuangco criticized.
Ramos invited Cebu GovernorLito Osmeña to serve as his running-mate. Ramos won the presidential election, defeating formerAgrarian Reform SecretaryMiriam Defensor Santiago of thePeople's Reform Party (PRP), Mitra and four other presidential candidates. On the other hand, Osmeña lost the vice presidential race to SenatorJoseph Estrada of theNationalist People's Coalition (NPC). Osmeña later appointed as Ramos' economic adviser.
But since he got a low plurality in the election, de Venecia created theRainbow Coalition and converged Lakas, Mitra's LDP, Cojuangco's NPC and other national parties.
In 1995, Lakas–NUCD formed an alliance with LDP, then known as Laban for the1995 legislative elections. This coalition, called theLakas–Laban Coalition, won a majority in both houses ofCongress. The coalition later folded after disputes with Laban led by its Senate LeaderEdgardo Angara, who also served as Senate President.
In 1997, Lakas–NUCD was joined by theUnited Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP) of former Ambassador Sanchez Ali, thereby changing the party's name toLakas–National Union of Christian Democrats–United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (Lakas–NUCD–UMDP). In November that year, Lakas held a national convention to select its nominees for the1998 national elections. The long list of contenders for the presidential nomination had been abridged into a close fight between Ramos' two leading political lieutenants, House Speaker de Venecia and former Defense SecretaryRenato de Villa, with Bulacan GovernorRoberto Pagdanganan, Finance SecretaryRoberto de Ocampo, Economic Adviser Lito Osmeña, Lakas Senator and Santiago's former running mateJun Magsaysay, andPCSO ChairManuel Morato[5] also contested in the nomination process. After rounds of secret balloting, de Venecia won the nomination and was officially proclaimed as the Lakas presidential nominee for the 1998 election.
After losing the nomination, de Villa bolted Lakas and formed thePartido para sa Demokratikong Reporma withPangasinan GovernorOscar Orbos as his running mate for vice president. Lito Osmeña, who also lost the presidential nomination, launched his presidential bid under theProbinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) withIsmael Sueno as his running mate.
Meanwhile, Lakas nominated then SenatorGloria Macapagal Arroyo as its candidate for vice president. Arroyo had originally intended to run for president under her party,Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPI). Pagdanganan joined the Lakas senatorial slate.
De Venecia lost thepresidential election to Vice President Joseph Estrada ofLaban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino by a significant plurality. Arroyo won the vice presidency in the same manner as Estrada, defeating Estrada's running mate, SenatorEdgardo Angara. Arroyo emerged victorious in the vice presidential race while KAMPI was in hiatus.
In early 2004, the party's name was changed into the currentLakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas–CMD). However, the meaning of Lakas in the party name was now referred to as "Lakas ng EDSA" ("The Strength of EDSA") from the original "Lakas ng Tao" ("People Power"). This was also the name that the party used when it participated in the2004 Philippine general election as the leading member of theK4 Coalition.
By 2003, Arroyo stated that she will not run for a full term. Because of her statements, SenatorsJun Magsaysay, Dr.Juan Flavier, andLoren Legarda declared their intention to get the Lakas presidential nomination. But only Magsaysay and Flavier are those party members who is contenders are willing to give way if Arroyo retracted her statement and run for presidential elections.[6] Flavier also said that if Legarda campaign for presidential nomination, he will withdraw.[7] Legarda that time finds her potential running mate with the likes of Raul Roco, and President Arroyo.[8]
Legarda and Vice President Tito Guingona later leave Lakas to join the opposition, with Legarda as the vice presidential candidate.[9]
President Arroyo was theK4 candidate for president in the2004 Philippine presidential election, eventually winning over actorFernando Poe Jr. and SenatorPanfilo Lacson.
After Arroyo's victory, she received electoral protest from Poe and his camp. In the protest, his running-mate, SenatorNoli de Castro also included which filed by former SenatorLoren Legarda. The poll protests were later thrown out by theSupreme Court acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). Later, the controversy arose with Arroyo'scontroversial call to Garci in 2004.
At the onset of 2006, Lakas was torn by factional rivalry between supporters of President Arroyo and supporters of former President Fidel V. Ramos. Issues include transitory provisions in a proposed Constitution to scrap the2007 midterm elections ("no-el") and calls for her to step down in time for the elections. The party held its Annual Party Directorate Meeting in January 2006 to discuss these matters.
There are no official results available of the 2007 elections released by Lakas–CMD but according to the House of Representatives, the party held 79 out of 235 seats.
On January 16, 2008, Lakas–CMD spokesman and legal counselRaul Lambino stated that Lakas officially released the list of senatorial bets for2010. Except forParañaque RepresentativeEduardo Zialcita, they were not yet identified. However, Lambino named incumbent SenatorsBong Revilla andLito Lapid, former senatorRalph Recto and former CongressmanProspero Pichay as among those considered.[10]
De Venecia's resignation
Jose de Venecia resigned his post as president of Lakas on March 10, 2008, and rejected the proposition of Ramos to give him the title of chairman emeritus. House SpeakerProspero Nograles and former House SpeakerFeliciano Belmonte Jr. were sworn as party president and vice president for Metro Manila affairs on the same day, respectively.
On June 18, 2008, President Gloria Arroyo confirmed the historical merger of the Lakas–CMD and theKabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) parties. Both parties adopted the "equity of the incumbent" principle, as the merger will account for almost 200 national and 8,000 local officials, amid Arroyo's prediction of victory in the2010 elections. Nograles and KAMPI ChairmanRonaldo Puno signed the covenant at the regionalcaucus held inDavao City.[11][12] Ramos, the party chairman-emeritus, announced on February 6, 2008, that Lakas–CMD would be the surviving entity after its merger withKAMPI.[13]
On August 9, 2009, de Venecia and Ramos led fifty members from the Lakas–Kampi–CMD in objecting to its merger with KAMPI. The faction elected de Venecia as president and Ramos as chairman emeritus. However, Ramos later refused the offer of being named in the interim party organization. De Venecia has filed a resolution at theCommission on Elections to declare the mergernull and void.[14] However, theSupreme Court ultimately upheld the legality of the merger,[15] citing the failure of de Venecia "to sufficiently show that any grave abuse of discretion was committed by theCommission on Elections in rendering the challenged resolution."[16]
Lakas has always focused on economic growth and development, stronger ties with theUnited States, creation of jobs, and strong cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government. It is known for its advocacy of a shift from the presentpresidential system to aparliamentary form of government through constitutional amendments and through establishing peace talks withMuslim separatists andcommunist rebels. The party democracy is distinct in its ecumenical inclusion of Muslim leaders in its political alliance.[3]
With being associated withCorazon Aquino's presidency, party founder and Defense Secretary[17] Fidel Ramos used yellow as Lakas' party color and campaign color in 1992,[18] especially when Ramos and his running-mate was endorsed by Aquino[19] (who used yellow in her 1986 campaign).[18][20] Ramos also emphasized the party's name Lakas (English translation to People Power), that he is a hero of the 1986 revolution.[4]
But when Gloria Mapacagal Arroyo assumed presidency, the color of Lakas is associated with her campaign color, which is powder blue.[21][22]
| Year | Presidential Candidate | Votes | % | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Fidel V. Ramos | 5,342,521 | 23.58 | Won | Fidel V. Ramoswon |
| 1998 | Jose de Venecia Jr. | 4,268,483 | 15.87 | Lost | Joseph Estrada (LAMMP) |
| 2004 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | 12,905,808 | 39.99 | Won | Gloria Macapagal Arroyowon |
| Year | Vice Presidential Candidate | Votes | % | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Lito Osmeña | 3,362,467 | 16.47 | Lost | Joseph Estrada (NPC) won |
| 1998 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | 12,667,252 | 49.56 | Won | Gloria Macapagal Arroyowon |
| 2004 | None; Arroyo's running mate wasNoli de Castro (Independent) | 15,100,431 | 49.80 | Won | Noli de Castro (Independent) won |
| Senate Election | Seats won | +/– | Result | President | House Seats | +/– | Result | House Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 2 / 24 | N/A | Majority | Fidel Ramos | 41 / 216 | N/A | Majority | 1992[d] |
| 1995[e] | 4 / 12 |  3 | Majority | 100 / 220 |  59 | Majority | 1995[e] | |
| 1998 | 5 / 12 | 4 | Majority | Joseph Estrada | 111 / 257 | 11 | Minority | 1998[e] |
| 2001 | 3 / 13 | 2 | Majority | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | 73 / 256 | 10 | Majority | 2001 |
| 2004 | 4 / 12 | 3 | Majority | 92 / 261 | 19 | Majority | 2004 | |
| 2007 | 1 / 12 |  | Majority | 89 / 271 | 3 | Majority | 2007 |
Lakas put up a full senatorial slate during theMay 11, 1998, national elections, as it propels the machinery of its candidates House SpeakerJose de Venecia and SenatorGloria Macapagal Arroyo to the presidency and vice presidency respectively against theLaban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (Struggle of Patriotic Filipino Masses) coalition of the opposition led by Vice PresidentJoseph Estrada and SenatorEdgardo Angara.
| Name | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Lisandro Abadia | former Chief of Staff of theArmed Forces of the Philippines |
| Rolando Andaya Sr. | Representative fromCamarines Sur |
| Robert Z. Barbers | formerSecretary of the Interior and Local Government and retired police officer |
| Renato L. Cayetano | Lawyer, former Presidential Legal Adviser, TV and radio personality |
| Roberto de Ocampo | formerSecretary of Finance |
| Ricardo Gloria | formerSecretary of Education, Culture and Sports |
| Teofisto "Tito" Guingona Jr. | formerSecretary of Justice |
| Lorna Regina B. Legarda | Journalist, TV personality |
| Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan | Governor ofBulacan and 1998 Lakas presidential candidate (nomination lost to Jose de Venecia Jr.) |
| Hernando B. Perez | Representative fromBatangas |
| Santanina T. Rasul | former senator |
| Ramon B. Revilla Sr. | Senator and former actor |
Lakas-NUCD-UMDP gained 5 out of 12 possible seats in theSenate namely: (in order of votes received)
Lakas–CMD had coalesced with other parties in the past elections, enabling it to strengthen its political power both in the national and local levels:
| President | Term start | Term end | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Raul Manglapus | 1991 | 1998[23] |
 | Tito Guingona | 1998 | October 8, 2003[24] |
 | Jose De Venecia | October 8, 2003[24] | 2008 |
| Chairperson | Term start | Term end | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose De Venecia | 1991 | May 2002[25] |
 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | May 2002[26] | 2008 |
At nariyan na rin ang pangalan ng partido. Ang buong pangalan ng Lakas ay Partido Lakas ng Tao or People Power Party para sagarin ang tema ng kampaniya ni FVR na isa raw siyang bayani ng EDSA [People Power] na lumaban kay Marcos.
The crushing of the RAM-led coups right after EDSA in 1986, however, intimidated the nation to accept the three Yellow regimes (Cory's, Ramos' and Aquino 3rd) and their narratives.
CAPTION:Politicians are usually associated with colors, such as Arroyo in blue, Duterte in red, Estrada in orange and Aquino in yellow. What are the meanings of these colors and how do they relate to political beliefs? (Art by Uela Badayos)
Earlier, she expressed a preference for powder blue (instead of dark blue)
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