Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court to stop Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas and his appointees from exercising the powers and functions of president and officers of the Liberal Party.

 Atienza heads one of two factions of the party, which also counts Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as member.

 As this developed, former Senate President Jovito Salonga Wednesday said he wants both Roxas and Aquino to go through a selection process to determine who between them will be the LP standard bearer in 2010.

Atienza also asked the high tribunal to nullify the June 18, 2009 resolution of the Commission on Elections that upheld the Nov. 26, 2007 election of Roxas as LP president during a meeting at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

He said Roxas’ election should be declared “void and of no effect, because of the expulsion of key LP members”, including himself, who were not given an opportunity to challenge their ouster.

“They (Roxas and his group) themselves had eschewed basic democratic principles such as due process and fair play in booting out the members from the party without giving them a forum to explain their side,” he stressed.

Aquino, on the other hand, said LP might just select its standard bearer through acclamation. He,though, refused to comment on the persistent question of him running for higher position.

Roxas, meanwhile, has kept a tight lip on the issue. Manila Bulletin tried to get his comment but the senator refused to answer as of presstime.

Atienza was elected LP president by his followers in 2006, but his election was nullified by the Comelec on the basis of a case filed by Drilon.

The Comelec ordered a new election of LP officers, only to be reversed by the SC on the ground that Drilon’s term as party president runs until Nov. 30, 2007. Thereafter, Roxas was elected president on Nov. 26, 2007, and his election was affirmed by the Comelec two months ago.

According to Atienza, the Comelec committed a grave abuse of discretion when it upheld the election
of Roxas.

“The validity or invalidity of respondent Roxas’ ascension to the LP leadership, therefore, necessarily rests on the legality of the proceedings conducted by the LP’s special body on Nov. 26, 2007,” he said.

Salonga, who is Liberal Party chairman emeritus, said should Roxas get the LP nomination, the latter would give Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party a run for his money in the May presidential elections.

“In my ultimate analysis, subject to possible qualifications, is it would be between Manny Villar and Mar Roxas (in 2010),” Salonga told House reporters.

Salonga said an open selection process is necessary to maintain unity within the party amid a perceived division brought about by calls for Aquino to run for president although Roxas is already the party’s anointed presidential candidate.

“Sa aking palagay magkakaroon ng tunay na pagkakaisa sa Liberal Party whether the candidate for the presidency is Mar Roxas or Noynoy Aquino kung pag-uusapan ito ng maayos ng mga nasa sa loob ng partido,” Salonga said.

“Kung ako ang masusunod dapat sila (Roxas and Aquino) ay dumaan sa isang proseso para magkakaroon ng tunay na pagkakaisa ang Partido Liberal,” he added.

The 89-year-old Salonga was interviewed after he delivered a speech before the House Committee on Justice regarding the impeachment case against Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez where is the lead complainant.

Salonga’s pronouncements echoed Atienza’s position Monday for Roxas to call for an open convention and selection for the party’s candidates next year.

Atienza said Aquino could be a strong contender for president and could unite the party.

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who heads the other faction, is backing Roxas as the party’s standard bearer and considers Aquino a mere running mate material.

Roxas said there was no turning back on his plans to run for president, a statement that did not surprise Salonga.

“It’s a politician’s statement. There’s no other way for a politician to say otherwise. But all statements of politicians are subject to qualification,” he said.