Arroyo pushes for Kampi-Lakas merger

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shares a light moment with Lakas Party president and House Speaker Prospero Nograles before the start of the Lakas expanded executive committee meeting Thursday (Jan. 29) at the Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. (OPS-NIB Photo)

CLARK FREEPORT — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday ordered the creation of a committee that will pursue the merger between Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

The National Consolidation and Unification Committee will oversee the merging of the political party with its allies like Kampi as she pushed for the administration groups to “fight side by side in 2010.”

The President said such a move, aside from political considerations, is in response to providing a unified government leadership that can meet the problems posed by the global economic crisis.

Speaking before the Lakas Expanded Executive Committee caucus at Holiday Inn hotel, Arroyo said the merger will also result in the consolidation of political moves for 2010.

“As intended, such a merger will result in an effective consolidation of political support for government’s programs for economic stability and social equity, now when it is most needed. It will also assure that we fight side-by-side in 2010,” Arroyo told members of the committee. (more)