While the Liberal Party (LP) has been seeking accountability following corruption scandals that were unearthed, the party must also admit and realize its role in shaping a system that led to the country’s troubles.
LP Secretary General Jose Christopher Belmonte, during the ‘Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap’ fellowship event on Friday, said that members should accept that despite the party’s principles, it had a hand in the problems discovered recently as it played a part in the creation of the country’s democratic system.
‘Liberal Party was established in 1946, next year [.] is LP’s 80th anniversary. Let us give ourselves a round of applause. But let us remember, our party was part of those who established the country’s democratic system, which is why we must put in mind that we are part of the system’s faults, part of the reason why we are here now,’ Belmonte, a former lawmaker from Quezon City, said in Filipino.
‘We have to accept this, that despite our principles, we are part of the system that failed to address the needs of the people whom we serve,’ he added.
According to Belmonte, the people have grown tired of corrupt schemes in the country, and LP is in a position to defend the people’s interests – reminding old and new party members that former president Benigno Aquino III’s anti-corruption slogan lives on.
‘People have been trying to be patient, and due to the government’s shortcomings, they had to find ways to survive. But now, the people are mad because corruption has gone overboard; we are in a position to fight for our people,’ Belmonte said.
In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the fellowship, Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, who is LP’s chairperso,n said he agrees with Belmonte’s view, noting that the party suffered losses after 2016 because of the party failed to deliver on some of the people’s needs due to time constraints.
Pangilinan was referring to the loss sustained by Aquino’s endorsed slate during the 2016 presidential race, as former senator Mar Roxas lost to former president Rodrigo Duterte.
‘We know and accept that, for example, why did we lose in 2016? Because first, you cannot fix the country and turn it into a progressive and modern version in just six years, that’s not enough,’ Pangilinan told reporters.
‘So we know that because we failed to respond to the pleas, we did not win in 2016. So we embrace that,’ he added.
What LP needs to do, the senator said, is to listen to the people’s demands and learn from its mistakes so that it can be effective in solving problems.
‘And that’s why, as they said, we have to understand and recognize that the people are not happy with what happened in the past years as a reminder for us to really take steps to address this, find out where we were lacking, and find ways to respond,’ Pangilinan said.
‘Let us learn from our inability to deliver so that we can be more effective in finally addressing the many problems of the country,’ he added.
The youth’s role
Early in the program. LP president Erin Tañada delivered a speech, wherein he said that the fellowship is an ode to Aquino’s campaign slogan – hence the event’s theme, ‘Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap (No poor Filipinos if there’s no corruption).’
According to Tañada, the fellowship, which coincides with the oath-taking of over 200 new LP members, is a chance to ‘renew’ the discipline that Aquino’s words and vision for governance instilled.
Belmonte, on the other hand, stressed that while LP’s old heads still figure in the party’s events and activities, they are focusing on the future by guiding the youth using LP’s traditions.
‘Many of us, those here in front, are veterans of 1986 (People Power Revolution) [.] when I went into the elevator, I saw our veteran chapter heads, I said ‘I thought we would be with young people, why are we old heads gathered here again?’ he said.
‘But look at ourselves, we bring the Liberal’s tradition – improving the lives of the people we serve, defending and fighting for democracy, human rights, rule of law. And our youth will bring the future of the party, young people like those with us today. We are now focused on the future of the party, and most importantly, of the Philippines,’ he added.
LP has seen several setbacks since Aquino stepped down from office in June 2016. While former vice president Leni Robredo, along with several other members of the LP senatorial slate, won in the 2016 national elections, the party suffered a mass exodus after most officials jumped to Duterte’s PDP-Laban.
Then in 2019, none of the eight senatorial candidates from the Otso Diretso slate – a coalition where LP is part of after fielding four of the eight bets – made it to the Magic 12.
However, there are bright spots for LP after 2022: Aquino’s cousin, Senator Bam Aquino, ranked second during the senatorial race for the 2025 midterm polls, while Pangilinan got the fifth slot – despite both not ranking high in pre-election surveys.
Tañada said this is the time for LP to rise again.
‘As we celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Liberal Party next year, the months ahead will shape the future of our nation. We cannot drift or wait. Every gathering like this must strengthen our ranks and awaken our shared sense of mission. To every Liberal in this room: this is our time to rise again. The call of reform has always found its loudest echo in moments of difficulty,’ he added.