In messages from all over the country over the weekend, LP provincial and municipal officials from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao manifested their steadfast support for Atienza and the other LP officials.

Among them are all five LP mayors of Batanes, Manuel Viola of Basco, Anastacio Barsana of Ivana, Reuel Ibañez of Itbayat, Juan Caballero of Sabtang, and Marita Ibay of Uyugan; San Nicolas, Pangasinan Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III, Parañaque City Vice Mayor Anjo Yllana, Iloilo Vice Gov. Obet Armada, former Iloilo governor and representative now Senior Board Member Curbing Tirador, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Assemblyman Jess Burahan of Sulu.

The reaffirmation of support came before Wednesday’s scheduled National Executive Council (NECO) meeting to be led by Atienza and Defensor.

Atienza had inducted new party members from Batangas, Antique, Kalinga, Ifugao, and Iloilo, as part of efforts to strengthen the LP.

Meanwhile, officials of the Kabataan ng Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI), the youth arm of the LP, chided the Drilon faction of the LP for their divisive acts sowing disunity in the party.

"We need leading examples for the youth. How can you talk about party loyalty or loyalty per se with Sen. Drilon? Palibhasa kinalburong Liberal lang siya," KALIPI National Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino said.

Student leader Rachel Ann Bersamera of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), convenor of the Council of Ladies of the KALIPI, said that "Sen. Drilon should stop acting like a fickle-minded person switching sides at every turn."

Aside from Atienza, other top officials of the LP are Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, national chairman; Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., vice chairman; Rep. Eric Singson, executive vice president; Rep. Harlin Abayon, vice president for policy, platform, and advocacy; Rep. Junie Cua, vice president for external affairs; Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, vice president for Luzon; Gov. Salvacion Saldivar Perez, vice president for Visayas; Rep. Federico Sandoval II, vice president for National Capital Region (NCR);

Rep. Danton Bueser, vice president for sectors; incoming Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura, secretary general; Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao, deputy secretary general; Rep. Danilo Suarez, treasurer; Rep. Florencio Miraflores, deputy treasurer; Rep. Solomon Chungalo, legal counsel; Rep. Fredenil Castro, spokesman; Rep. Miles Andrew Roces, deputy spokesman; Eleazar Quinto, director general; Rep. Laurence Wacnang, chairman, parliamentary caucus; Gov. Vicente Gato, chairman, Council of Local Chief Executives; and Councilor Melvin Macusi, chairman, Liberal League of Local Legislators. (Reden S. Viaje)