Albay Gov. Jose Sarte Salceda, the economic adviser of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Wednesday announced that he has left the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party and moved to the camp of Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. LP leaders warmly welcomed Salceda to their fold, saying his move paves a way for Aquino's victory in the Bicol region, a key election battleground with more than 2.8 million voters. Salceda joins a lengthening roster of Lakas leaders who have transferred either to the LP or the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manny Villar with less than a month to go before Filipinos go to the polls. But among the Lakas turncoats, Salceda was the biggest catch for the opposition so far since he is considered as one of Arroyo's closest and most trusted allies aside from his widespread influence in the vote-rich Bicol region. Salceda promptly predicted that the Philippine economy would improve under Aquino's leadership. “I have come to the preliminary conclusion that a new mandate under an Aquino presidency would have the highest statistical probability of triggering a significant increase in the investment rate” in the country, he said in a statement. Salceda said foreign investments in the Philippines could increase by 8 percent or P642 billion in the first 18 months of an Aquino presidency. “This would create 642,000 more jobs on top of the organic capacity of the economy for job creation,” he added. Salceda said his decision to bolt the administration party was “difficult, but not abrupt.” He added that he has not yet personally informed Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. about his transfer to the LP. Salceda was a staunch backer of Teodoro before he changed sides Wednesday. Salceda revealed that Aquino was actually his classmate at the Ateneo de Manila University and they both graduated in 1981. He said both of them were Economics graduates and were students of then Professor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, herself an economics graduate. "I distinctly remember Noynoy as a seatmate in the English class… during my first year in Ateneo. He struck me as being quite ordinary for a son of the biggest political prisoner, a future martyr-hero and a future president," Salceda said, referring to Aquino's late parents Ninoy and Cory Aquino. Salceda said he is joining many of his longtime friends in the LP camp, including campaign manager Florencio Abad, Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and former Defense chief Avelino Cruz. He said Aquino and running mate Senator Mar Roxas had given him a free hand with regards to how he runs Albay. “The only thing that changed is that I would now campaign for Noynoy for president. Everything else remains the same," he said.Salceda is seeking a second term as Albay governor.
