'Hindi ako open': Erice says he'll never be allies with Marcos admin even if LP joins coalition
At A Glance
- Caloocan City 2nd district Rep. Edgar "Egay" Erice will never join the ruling coalition of the Marcos administration--even if his very own Liberal Party (LP) wants in on it.
Caloocan City 2nd district Rep. Edgar "Egay" Erice (Facebook)
Caloocan City 2nd district Rep. Edgar "Egay" Erice will never join the ruling coalition of the Marcos administration--even if his very own Liberal Party (LP) wants in on it.
Erice shut to door to such a scenario in a chance interview Tuesday, March 3 even as rumors swirled that LP was open to a political partnership with the administration.
"Ako, hindi ako open. Personally, hindi ako open (Me, I'm not open. Personally I'm not open)," said the former House senior deputy minority leader, when asked about the rumors.
"I am not open to join the administration. Kasi ano eh, sobra na eh, sobra na (Because the thing is, it's too much, too much). I've experienced the father, now I'm experiencing the son; parang wala namang pinag-iba (it appears there's no difference)," he said.
Erice was alluding to the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and incunbent President Marcos, respectively.
Needless to say, his comparison of the two speaks volumes regarding his view on the government. "Definitely I will not be a part of any coalition with the administration," he reiterated.
But what if LP opts to coalesce with Marcos? Erice acknowledged this as a possibility, but said it won't result to him automatically jumping on board.
"If they (LP) are willing to join them (administration), I will not be a part of it. Pero wala namang desisyon pa (But there's no decision on it yet). Basta (Even) if they will join, I will not join them," the Caloocan congressman said.
"Wala pa namang final decision ang LP. Actually, pagka may mga issues, it's always conscience vote sa LP (The LP has yet to come up with a final decision. Actually, the LP always allows a conscience vote whenever there are issues)," he noted.
At any rate, Erice says he doesn't see himself breaking away from the party.
Talks on the potential realignment of political parties became a hot topic after Vice President Sara Duterte announced last Feb. 18 that she would run for president in the 2028 elections.