The appeal was made by lawyers and leaders of non-government organizations (NGOs) who noted that for almost three weeks now, the Comelec has not acted on the petition filed before it by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon challenging the validity of the election of officers of the LP under Manila Mayor Lito A. Atienza last March 2.

The Comelec, they also noted, has not calendared the petition for a hearing nor has the body directed Atienza and 14 other respondents to answer or comment on the case.

Neither did the Comelec act on the March 13, 2006 letter of Presidential Legal Counsel Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura who was elected secretary general of the LP under Atienza seeking the poll body’s recognition of the LP officers elected last March 2, lawyers and non-government organization (NGO) leaders said.

The lawyers and NGO leaders, led by lawyer and certified public accountant Godofredo V. Arquiza of GVA Accountng & Law Firm, former Governor Jose P. Icaonapo Jr. of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Metro Manila, prominent election lawyer Francisco B. Sibayan, labor-management consultant and general law practitioner Ernesto S. Dinopol, Dr. Cesar S. Cordova Jr. of the Knights of Columbus Council 6183 and lawyer Nilo T. Divina of Caloocan City 2nd District, said that for as long as the Comelec has not yet determined the true and legitimate officers of the party, acts that could eventually destroy the party will continue to be committed..

Arquiza, concurrently president of Oneway Printing Foundation and author of Unified Invoice System designed to enhance the government’s tax collection efficiency, noted that while the Comelec ruling on the leadership dispute is being awaited, the LP under Drilon announced last Friday during a solidarity rally in Silang, Cavite the expulsion from the LP roll of members o f Atienza and Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor.

Also expelled from their positions in the LP headed by Drilon are Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon, Governors Sally Perez of Antique and Arman Sanchez of Batangas.

Icaonapo, three-time president of the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association (PTLA), noted on the other hand that after Drilon announced his expulsion from the LP, Atienza, in the exercise of his authority as party president, swore in local officials of Batangas City as new members of the LP.

‘’Only a Comelec ruling stating which of the two sets of officers of the LP is legitimate can prevent the LP intramurals from escalating, " said Sibayan who won landmarks decisions from the Supreme Court on sensational and controversial poll cases..

Dinopol, a retiied commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and former legal counsel of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the House of Representatives, appealed to the Comelec to resolve with dispatch the LP leadership dispute so as not to further worsen the relations between the Senate and Malacañang.

He said the relations between the Senate and Malacañang are necessarily affected the LP intramurals as Drilon, who claims to be the legitimate LP president, is president of the Senate. Among the supporters of Drilon as LP president are Sens. Rodolfo Biazon, Francisco Pangilinan and Manuel "Mar" Roxas.

Cordova, a consultant on legislative affairs in Quezon City, noted on the other hand that the LP under Atienza is headed by no less than President Arroyo who was listed as Honorary Chairman of the party. Other Malacañang officials elected to vital positions in the LP under Atienza are Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor as chairman, Presidetial Legal Counsel Antonio Eduardo Nachura as secretary geeral, Budget Secretary Rolando G. Andaya Jr. as vice chairman; and Ambassador Rigoberto G. Tiglao as deputy secretary general.