(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Senator Francis 'Kiko Pangilinan has resigned as president of the Liberal Party (LP) for his apparent failure to help the Otso Diretso opposition Senate slate win in the May 13 midterm elections.
Rep.Jose Christopher 'Kit Belmonte also resigned as LP secretary general.
However, Vice President Maria Leonora 'Leni Robredo, LP chairman, did not accept their resignation.
'The VP has not accepted Sen. Kiko's and Congressman Kit's resignations. Much work remains to be done, and they will do it together, Barry Gutierrez, her spokesman, said in a statement.
Pangilinan, in a statement issued yesterday, said he took 'full responsibility for the results of the national elections, which saw the opposition slate Otso Diretso suffer a complete shutout.
The candidates were re-electionist Sen. Paolo Benigno 'Bam Aquino 4th, Rep. Gary Alejano, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel Diokno, civic leader Samira Gutoc, election lawyer Romulo 'Romy Macalintal, former Rep. Lorenzo 'Erin Tanada, and former senator Manuel 'Mar Roxas 2nd.
'As campaign manager for the Otso Diretso slate, I was unable to ensure our victory in the elections and I, therefore, assume full responsibility for the outcome and hold myself primarily accountable for this defeat and have tendered my resignation as president of the LP effective June 30, 2019, Pangilinan said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he was 'deeply saddened by Pangilinan's decision to give up his post.
'We did not expect it, especially in times like this when we need a steady hand to lead the party alongside Vice President Leni Robredo. We are witness on how Senator Pangilinan worked very hard and diligently to campaign for Otso Diretso candidates. Unfortunately, we lost, Drilon said.
Malacanang lauded Pangilinan's action. 'That's commendable. He accepts defeat, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
Panelo said the opposition candidates lost because the people did not believe in them.
'For us, they lost because the people did not believe in them. They believed in President Duterte, he said.
'This is a referendum of the performance of this president. They didn't raise the issue against the candidates endorsed by the president or Mayor Sara, but they concentrated and focused on the performance of the president and the issues raised against him. And the people simply repudiated them, he added, referring to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who heads the administration-backed regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
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