Despite abandoning the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (LKC) bet for speaker and severing ties with the party’s bloc in the House of Representatives, 24 party members have been allowed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to retain their status as party members.

Local Water Utilities Administration Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr., the party spokesman, and Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay revealed that the LKC force in the Lower House remained at 109 members but 24 are set to support the bid of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. for speaker.

“Our party will now be divided into the majority and minority when the 15th Congress opens. It’s a sad development but some of us have their particular reasons for not joining our attempt to retain power in the Lower House, we cannot prevent it and we are just respecting this decision of our partymates,” Magsaysay told reporters during Thursday's Usaping Balita News Forum.

Magsaysay admitted that the LKC set up in the 15th Congress has the blessings of President Arroyo, currently the LKC chairperson.

She said the party leaders are “realistic” about losing backers for its own speakership bet.

“We are realistic but I believe we will still have more than 55 strong members if we will indeed become the minority in the chamber,” Magsaysay said.

Of the 24 Belmonte backers, 13 are “original members” of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) and are now in the thick of talks with the mayor for committee assignments.

The group is composed of top political allies of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and is headed by re-elected Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.

Antonino reportedly insists on either retaining his post as chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Security or getting a slot in the Commission on Appointments.

The 11 others previously belonged to the Lakas-CMD.