QUEZON CITY- Leaders of the Liberal Party (LP) have decided to focus on rebuilding the party by focusing on sectoral membership of non-politicians, Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday.

According to Robredo, leaders of the party conducted a 2-day strategic planning about 2 weeks ago to set the direction of the LP under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Ang direksyon ngayon, babalik sa mga dating kasamahan sa sektor at palalakasin ulit ang sectoral membership ng party,” Robredo said in a press conference in her Quezon City office.

(The direction now is to go back to former partners in different sectors and strengthen sectoral membership of the party.)

LP President Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and former President Benigno
“Noynoy” Aquino III attended the meeting. Former LP presidential bet Mar Roxas was unable to attend.

Robredo clarified that the meeting was for core officers only and not yet a general assembly of party members.

Asked if the party already has a position on moves to reinstate the death penalty, Robredo said they would push for a consensus among members but would encourage “conscience voting” if they cannot reach one.

Since Robredo’s resignation from the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte last December, the LP has been urged to leave the super-majority in Congress supportive of Duterte and lead the opposition under the vice president.