Hit by defections of key allies over the weekend, the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD made a swift and furious retaliation by snatching from the Liberal Party roster Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, the entire provincial board, and 10 municipal mayors, thus, practically paralyzing LP’s political machinery in the province.

Antonio Alvarez of Palawan belittledThis developed as House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao and Rep. claims by its three rival parties that there was an exodus of Lakas-Kampi, saying these are mere speculations to create an impression that their respective camps are growing.

Over the weekend, LP won Lakas-Kampi Reps. Victor Agbayani of Pangasinan; Bernardo Pinol Jr. of North Cotabato, and Antonio Cuenco while the Nationalist People’s Coalition pirated five mayors and 45 other local officials from Batangas, supposedly a bailiwick of Lakas-Kampi president, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

The Nacionalista Party added LP local officials from Cagayan, Laguna, and Ilocos Norte to its membership list. Earlier, it raided the ranks of Lakas-Kampi governors by recruiting Governors Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur; Rogelio Espina of Biliran, Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur and Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte.

Together with North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Pinol who joined NPC, the four governors bolted Lakas-Kampi to protest the alleged “unfairness and favoritism” played by Administrator Prospero Pichay Jr. of the Local Water Utilities Administraiton.

Pichay headed the Lakas-Kampi arbitration panel that supposedly resolved controversies arising from members who will be slugging it out in common positions in the 2010 local elections.

But the administration party down played the defection, saying it is trying to become “leaner and meaner” to clinch victory for the 2010 elections.

Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said the departure of some allies of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party is mere fallout from its selection process that would eventually strengthen the organization.

“These defections are actually doing us a favor. The positive result of these defections is that the administration party will have single, solid, formidable lineups of candidates at the local level who will not be distracted by internal conflicts and therefore better able to concentrate on helping the administration’s national candidates win their respective areas,” Claudio said.

Raymundo Roquero, Lakas-Kampi deputy secretary-general, said party leaders have expected the resignation of members displeased by the decision of the Pichay panel.

Roquero said the defections did not affect the formidable party machinery, adding that new recruits with better political credentials have joined the administration-backed party.

“Those who remain with us represent 99 percent of the party. They are the candidates with the better qualifications and whose loyalty is beyond question,” Roquero added.

Datumanong, who is also the senior vice president for internal affairs of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said he was not aware of any defections, saying they will have a meeting on Nov. 11 to assess if the reports are true.

“In fact, I just met somebody – a governor – who was reported to have defected or joined another party. He said that for all intents and purposes, he has not abandoned Lakas,” he said.

On the other hand, Alvarez, Lakas-Kampi-CMD spokesman, said the claims of defections are nothing but another psy-war tactics of LP and NP.

“The reality in Philippine politics is that the exodus only begins after the election when all make a beeline to the camp of the winning candidate. It is only then that the political configuration is altered,” he said.

Roquero stated that Akbar’s group was the second batch of LP members in as many months to defect to Lakas-Kampi following the breakaway last month of eight LP congressmen, proving the administration party remains the most dominant across the country.

Akbar and Vice-Governor Al Rasheed Sakkalahul – who won under the LP in the 2007 election – were sworn in by Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr, the ruling party’s preferred standard-bearer.

The entire Basilan Provincial Board, 10 town mayors, two vice mayors and a host of prospective local candidates in next year’s election joined the governor in a brief mass oath-taking ceremony in Zamboanga City last Thursday.

Teodoro described Akbar’s move to the ruling party as a “positive political development” for the administration.

“This is a concrete proof to our assertions that Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the most dominant political party in the country today,” Teodoro said.

With Akbar leaving LP, the opposition party lost its sting in the province.

The other group of Basilan‘s political bigwigs led by the Hataman brothers is backing the group of Sen. Francis Escudero as its presidential bet.

Akbar and his group joined the eight LP congressmen who had earlier taken their oath at the Malacañang Guest House before Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the party’s interim president. They were Reps. Mary Mitzy L. Cajayon (2nd District, Caloocan City); Glenn A. Chong (Lone District, Biliran); Solomon R. Chungalao (Lone District, Ifugao); Magtanggol Gunigundo (2nd District, Valenzuela City); and Alvin S. Sandoval (Lone District, Malabon-Navotas City); Reynaldo Uy (1st District, Western Samar); Jose Antonio F. Roxas (Lone District, Pasay City) of the LDP, and Rodolfo G. Valencia (1st District, Oriental Mindoro).

The other officials were Nancy A. Ituralde, the PCL President; Mark Joseph de Leon, SK President; Mogpog Mayor Senen M. Livelo, Jr., Torrijos Mayor Gil R. Briones, Gasan Mayor Victoria Lao-Lim, Buenavista Mayor Ofelia S. Madrigal, Mogpog Vice-Mayor Sebastian T. Mandalihan, former Sta. Cruz Mayor Percival P. Morales, and Councilor Russel S. Madrigal, the Liga ng Barangay President in Buenavista.

Northern Samar Rep. Emil L. Ong (2nd District), six provincial board members and 16 municipal mayors also took their party oath last month, the second major group from the Visayas to bolster the party’s ranks.

Ong was joined at the Malacañang Guest House mass oath-taking by Vice-Governor Antonio P. Lucero, and Mayors Jaime Garcia Sr. (Biri), Benjamin L. Lao (Bobon), Ignacio V. Cascano (Capul), Alita E. Rosales (Catarman), Quintin B. Saludaga (Lavezares, Erlinda Cinco (Lope de Vega), Basilio Miranda (Rosario), Nicolas Puro Jr. ( Victoria), Timoteo Capoquian (Gamay), AMadeleine Ong (Laoang), Romualdo Menzom (Lapinig), Arlito Tan (Las Navas), Felipe Laodenio (Mapanas), Rogelio Tan (Pambujan), Andrei Avalon ( San Roque), and Edmund Gillamac (Silvino Lobos).

The others who took their oath were former Rep. Harlin Abayon and Board Members Francisco Rosales Jr., Gary M. Lavin, Rodolfo Del Valle, Maritess Gillamac, Alfredo Dulay, Ben Gorembalem and Miguel Sarmiento, and Vice-Mayor Arturo Dubongco (Allen).