The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP; lit.'Fight of Democratic Filipinos') is a political party in the Philippines founded by former House Speaker Ramon Mitra and Tarlac Congressman Peping Cojuangco. In mid-90s, it was more referred to called as Laban instead of LDP.[2]
History
Early years and formation
In September 1988, due to Cojuangco's recruitment of former Pro-Marcos and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) politicians,[3][4] PDP–Laban was split into two factions: the Pimentel wing led by Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and the Cojuangco wing of Jose Cojuangco Jr. On September 16, 1988, the Cojuangco wing merged with the Lakas ng Bansa of Speaker Mitra to form the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.
1992 elections
1991 LDP National Convention
The first LDP National Convention, held on November 30, 1991, nominated Mitra as the party nominee for president in 1992. Mitra won the nomination, defeating former National Defense SecretaryFidel V. Ramos.[5][6] Even though Mitra won the nomination, in Peping Cojuangco's hometown Tarlac, he only gathered 8 votes, with Ramos earning 53. Ramos also won Pangasinan by 25 points, 76 to 41, and in Western Mindanao. The two tied in Ilocos Region and in ARMM.[7]
After losing the nomination to Mitra, Ramos bolted the LDP and formed Lakas–NUCD in January 1992 as his vehicle for the 1992 presidential race. Ramos subsequently won the election.[8] Ramos was backed by then President Corazon Aquino while Mitra had the support of the late Manila ArchbishopJaime Sin.[9] Mitra only placed fourth, while Ramos sealed his victory with a tight result.
By 1997, two of its stalwarts in the Senate, Raul Roco and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bolt out of the party to form their own new ones, with Roco formed Aksyon and Arroyo formed KAMPI for their own presidential runs.[10] But later, Arroyo did not run for president after being convinced by Cardinal Sin and chose to form a coalition with Lakas and picked as former LDP member Jose De Venecia's running-mate.[11]
After Estrada was kicked out from presidency by EDSA dos, Angara formed a coalition with PRP, and mainly composed of Estrada supporters and loyalists, with naming it Pwersa ng Masa for the 2001 elections. Also, they got new members, one of them is Ping Lacson, the PNP chief during Estrada's presidency. Pwersa managed to only won 5 of 13 seats, including Angara, and Lacson from LDP.[13]
The initial plan was that LDP would form the core of the main opposition coalition, the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). However, some party members disagreed on which candidate to support for president. Lacson advanced his candidacy, but his bid was not considered by party president Angara who supported Poe. Together with party secretary-general Aquino, Lacson gathered the support of a few LDP members and went ahead with his bid.[15]
The LDP was subsequently polarized between the Angara-Poe and Lacson-Aquino factions. By then, Poe and Lacson both filed their certificates of candidacy for president. With no signs that the LDP two factions would come to an agreement, the Commission on Elections decided to informally split the party into the Aquino and Angara factions. Lacson ran under the Aquino wing, while Poe under the Angara wing which would form the main core of the KNP.[16][17]
Aquino blasted Angara for his passion for control that had spawned internal divisions within the LDP. Angara's control caused LDP stalwarts such as former Senate President Neptali Gonzales, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, former senator Heherson Alvarez, and Arroyo (who is the then-president and also the administration candidate), among others to leave the party.[10]
There are no results available for the 2004 election for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party held 7 out of 235 seats.
2007 elections
For the 2007 elections, LDP joined TEAM Unity in a reunion with Lakas, its former electoral partner in 1995.[18][19] Because of the unpopularity of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, only two candidates from the TEAM Unity slate won seats in the Senate.[20] On the House elections, the party won three seats in the House of Representatives.[21]
In September 24, 2018, LDP members elected Sonny Angara to be their party president at an organizational meeting and fellowship dinner held at the Manila Golf and Country Club. LDP joined the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) of then-Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Angara was tapped to be their one of their senatorial candidates for 2019 elections.[30] He is able to secure a win, after grabbed a spot to Magic 12, placing 6th with 18,161,862.[31]
2022 elections
Sonny Angara once eyed to have an alliance with the HNP, as Sara Duterte was poised to run for president due to her high ratings. Angara expressed that intention, as just in case he will be chosen as Duterte's running-mate for 2022.[32]
^Contested in an electoral alliance with the Lakas–CMD. Seat total consists of 17 LDP representatives and 25 dual representatives of Lakas–CMD and LDP.
^Contested in an electoral alliance with NPC and PMP as LAMMP. Seat total consists of 55 LAMMP representatives. LDP did not stand any candidates outside the LAMMP alliance.
^Derbyshire, ed. (2016). Encyclopedia of World Political Systems. Routledge. p. 751. ISBN9781317471561. ... was formed in 1997 through the merger of the center-right Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP: Democratic Filipino Struggle Party), the rightwing Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). ...
^"Broken Promises". Manila Standard. May 9, 1995. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
.svg)
