Kampi-CMD party on Tuesday shrugged off the waves of defections ripping apart the coalition led by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, claiming the party is actually becoming “more unified and streamlined” and not really “disintegrating” contrary to reports. In an interview on ANC Television, Lakas-Kampi vice-chairman Oscar Moreno admitted that their ranks have shrunk considerably. “It is admitted that (our) number is getting smaller, but it's getting more solid and unified. I would rather call it a maturing and streamlining process. It's a transformation of Lakas," he said. He said that of the 150 Lakas-CMD members who won in the congressional election in 1998, only less than 30 have remained with many of the turncoats joining the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Senator Manny Villar. Among Lakas-Kampi-CMD leaders who have left and joined Villar's NP are former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit" Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri and Cebu Representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz. Moreno likewise acknowledged that the ruling party is facing difficult times ahead of the May 10 elections. He said lack of money is the cause of some of the problems afflicting the party, adding that the defections would not have happened if the party had ample financial resources. He said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro understands why some party members decided to leave the party and hat Teodoro harbors no resentment against them. He said Teodoro particularly mentioned Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales who join the Liberal Party of Senator Noynoy Aquino. “I'm sure (Gonzales's) decision must have been very, very difficult. He is also sentimental and he made his decision for family and tradition,” he said.
