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Crisostimo forms own party
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Posted on Apr 07 2005
Democratic senator Luis C. Crisostimo has formed his own political party, with an aim toward ultimately aligning it with the national Democratic Party.
The senator, who lost the local party’s endorsement for gubernatorial candidacy to former governor Froilan C. Tenorio, said Wednesday that his group is called “Populao National Democratic Party.”
“This is going to be the true Democratic Party. It will uphold true democratic, pro-people ideals,” said the senator.
Comments from the Democratic Party were not immediately available.
Crisostimo earlier filed his letter of intent to run as governor for the Democratic Party but was disqualified for not meeting all the requirements, including the payment of application fee worth $1,500.
The senator said, though, that the party actually owes him more than the said fee. He said the party has yet to reimburse him for advertising costs and other expenses during the November 2003 elections.
In an interview last Wednesday, Crisostimo said he remains interested in running for governor. But one point, he said, “Forget about politics.”
He also said the new party would open a primary for the gubernatorial race sometime in June this year. “We’ll advertise for a primary,” he said.
The senator declined to name the other people behind the new party, saying this may just slow down their work.
He said the party has already formulated its by-laws. “We want to do the right thing. We want to leave a legacy of a true Democratic party,” he said.
Crisostimo said he has been communicating with the national Democratic Party on the matter. He said he is already a member of the national party.
Crisostimo, who is in his early 40s, won a Senate seat in the 2003 midterm elections.
