That is why it is disappointing to hear its possible standard bearer in 2010, Mar Roxas, say that they are “open to talking with everyone” when asked about former president and convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada’s multi-party opposition nomination process.

I hope that LP Chair Francis Pangilinan is sincere when he said his party should veer away from such a multi-party arrangement.

“The LP should consider going it alone as an option if aligning with other groups or parties only serves to perpetuate the bankrupt and hopelessly inutile ‘politics as usual,” Pangilinan was quoted as saying by GMANews.tv.

Why would a real party even negotiate with the trapos?

If the LP really wants to coalesce with other groups, it should instead approach alternative ang reform-oriented opposition groups such as Black and White Movement, Aksyon Demokratiko/Alyansa ng Pag-asa, Bayan Muna, Akbayan, Sanlakas, Laban ng Masa, Bangon Pilipinas/Cibac, Ang Kapatiran and even Magdalo.

Many of the individuals in these organizations and parties were the same people who supported Bangon! nationalist movement, the “third force” group which Vice President Teofisto Guingona–also former LP member–founded and later abandoned when he joined Fernando Poe Jr’s camp.

LP should redeem its mistake of supporting Gloria Arroyo instead of Raul Roco in 2004. It should avoid Estrada’s UNO and Gloria’s Lakas, Lakas-Pala, and Kampi bloc.