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KAMPI National Convention. President Arroyo is escorted to the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion by DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte, KAMPI national president. Behind them are KAMPI Secretary General Emigdio Tanjuatco, Jr. and Chair Margarita ‘Tingting’ Cojuangco. |
The phenomenal growth of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) as a major political party in the country was dramatized Monday, February 12 at its national convention held at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel where some 3,000 delegates from all over the archipelago converged, the overflow crowd spilling to the hotel lobby.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who herself founded the party in 1998 as she ran for vice president was keynote speaker and took the opportunity to endorse the administration unity senatorial ticket two days after the line-up was firmed up with the inclusion of Senators Edgardo Angara, Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo.
The complete administration senatorial slate includes Secretary Michael Defensor, former Senators Teresita Aquino-Oreta and Vicente Sotto III, Congressman Prospero Pichay, Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Congressman Miguel Zubiri and Gov. Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson. Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla who was present at the convention eventually pulled out to run for reelection in his home province of Leyte and was promptly replaced by actor Cesar Montano.
Only three persons spoke during the open ceremonies- President Arroyo, DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno who introduced her and Congresman Luis R. Villafuerte, KAMPI national president, who delivered the welcome address which at the same time outlined the direction of the party.
During the last few weeks, KAMPI membership has surged and now counts with 57 congressmen, the second biggest for a political party in the House of Representatives. Also in the KAMPI now are 13 governors, 14 vice governors, 71 board members, 596 city and municipal mayors, 241 vice mayors and 396 councilors.
KAMPI has chapters in 16 out of 17 regions, 56 out of 81 provinces, 100 out of 215 districts, 1,339 out of 1,616 cities and municipalities.
Among those who recently joined KAMPI were Governors Josie de la Cruz of Bulacan, Tomas Joson III of Nueva Ecija, Pax Mangudadato of Sultan Kudarat, Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte, Bellaflor Angara-Castillo of Aurora, Jose Caballero of Campostela Valley, Joaquin Carlos Rahmana Nava of Guimaras, Andal Ampatuan of Maguindanao, Pedro Bacani of Quirino, Jeorge Jofer of Zamboanga Sibugay, Erpe John Amante of Agusan del Norte, Aurora Ceriles of Zamboanga del Sur and Glen Prudenciano of Ifugao.
