Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. Monday urged Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to hold an open convention and selection for Liberal Party (LP) candidates in the 2010 polls, saying that Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III could emerge as a party leader and unifier.

Atienza, who heads one of the two factions of the party, also said Noynoy could be a strong contender for president in the next elections.

Atienza issued the call after Roxas criticized the DENR chief for coming out with a paid advertisement last Friday on the occasion of the death anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. The advertisement noted that Atienza was the “true” leader of the LP.

The other LP faction is headed by former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who backs Roxas as the party’s standard bearer for 2010.

The rift within the party emerged in 2005 after Drilon and other party members openly criticized President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whom Atienza supports.

“How can we unite the country when we cannot even unite the Party? Name calling or badmouthing will not do us anything. What we need now is to strengthen LP,” Atienza said in a press conference.

“We can still reconcile these differences. Let’s call for a convention that will unite the Party and choose the majority’s candidate.”

The DENR chief noted that for a candidate to become a strong contender in the elections, one has to be chosen by majority of the (LP) members.

“If not, you’re not leading but just dealing,” Atienza stressed.

“We will support anybody who will join the open selection process not of a selected club. Noynoy (Aquino) has a very good potential of becoming an LP leader or a nominee. Give Noynoy a chance,” he added.

Aquino is being considered as a running mate of Roxas in the next polls, although recent developments have seen a snowballing call for him to seek the highest office. Aquino has not equivocally stated whether he would run for higher office next year.

“Bakit kinakahon si Noynoy sa vice president? I think Noynoy is better to be a presidential candidate,” Atienza said. “Noynoy has the support of more Liberals now. We have to give providential justice now for the Aquinos. It may be the time to rectify it.”

Aquino’s father, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was a member of the LP, and was a strong critic of the Marcos administration until his assassination in 1983.

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, a party member, on the other hand urged “Noynoy” to take the lead in efforts to push for constituent reforms.

Pangilinan believes that Aquino, son of Ninoy and the late former President Corazon Aquino, can take the lead in putting up a united front to defeat traditional politics. He said all reform-minded leaders and groups should consider a continuing dialogue for unity.

“A united front is needed to defeat traditional politics, which is the main source of corruption and bad governance,” he said.

“(The May) 2010 (elections) should no longer be about the opposition or administration, but about genuine change,” he said.

“We urge Sen. Noynoy (Aquino) to tap the goodwill brought about by the death of President Cory Aquino and take the lead in helping unite all those committed to genuine change,” Pangilinan stressed.

“Politics as usual will never work. We need a true alternative,” he added.

Though the possibility of a Roxas-Aquino or Aquino-Roxas tandem is still being mulled, the Liberal Party is said to have been split over the decision.

Meanwhile, Manila Auxillary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines advised Aquino III to discern if he’s capable of running for a higher post.

“He should discern if he’s really capable and whether he’s really up to the task,” said Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice & Peace, “because that would also entail sacrifice on his part just like what his parents did.”

Pabillo said the younger Aquino should not get carried away by public calls for him to continue the legacy of his parents.

“The legacy of his parents is not by blood alone, it’s in the ideals. We don’t know whether the ideals of his parents are also the same with his ideals,” he said.

Calls for Noynoy to run for a higher post began after the death of his mother last August 1 and have since grown stronger, with Liberal Party chairman emeritus Jovito Salonga also pushing for a vice presidential bid for the senator.