Liberal Party takes helm of alliance of Asian political parties

Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has handed over chairmanship of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) to the Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines, according to LP.

CALD, the only regional alliance of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, on Wednesday announced the appointment LPas the new chair of CALD during its executive committee meeting on June 30.

Outgoing CALD chair and Taiwan ambassador to the US, Bi-Khim Hsiao, facilitated the leadership transition.

“I think 2020 will mark a year in history of dramatic changes and challenges in Asia. I want to thank Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] and the Liberal Party of the Philippines for asserting this duty and the chairmanship of CALD and for carrying on the important battle to sustain liberalism and democracy in Asia,” Hsiao said.

LP is a founding member of CALD and an active member of Liberal International.

Pangilinan, LP’s incumbent party president, welcomed his party’s leadership role in CALD.

“While leadership may sometimes be a burden and always a duty, it is also a collective undertaking that if handled conscientiously, could lead to something worthwhile and significant,” he said.

This is the third time that LP will take on the leadership role in CALD.

Pangilinan accepted the hand-over on behalf of the LP.

“A healthy community of people and nations require a vibrant democracy — a living and life-giving democracy that is relevant in our people’s everyday lives, a democracy that brings hope, a meaningful democracy that empowers people to chart their own destinies and tell their own stories,” Pangilinan said.

“This relevant, hopeful, and empowering democracy is what our people need, and so, what the Liberal Party-Philippines will endeavor to provide as it chairs the CALD in two years,” he added.

For a term of two years, Pangilinan will serve as CALD chairperson, and Francis Gerald “Blue” Abaya, LP vice president for international affairs, as CALD secretary general.

In the 27-year history of CALD, LP had served as CALD chair-party for two terms: 1997-1999 and 2005-2007. The recently assumed term of LP will end in 2022.

Former LP president and then Deputy Speaker Raul Daza of Northern Samar served as CALD chairperson 1997-1998. In 1999, he was succeeded by former Batanes Rep. Butch Abad, who was formerly CALD secretary general during Daza’s incumbency.

Former LP President and then Philippine Senate President Franklin Drilon assumed CALD chairmanship 2005-2007.

LP officials who served as CALD secretaries general include former President Benigno Aquino III (1999), who was then Tarlac province’s representative, and former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, who served the longest as CALD’s secretary general from 2005 to 2014.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)