The Commission on Elections hearing on the application of the Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) to become a national political party will be held Tuesday, May 23, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez confirmed Monday.
Benitez, who is the president of the KNP, said he will be among the socio-civic movement’s officials who will be attending the COMELEC hearing.
“It was agreed by a certain group of elected officials, mostly from Congress, to put up a new party embracing the ideology of this administration’s campaign based on unity,” he said.
“We heeded that call and decided to create a party,” he said.
As of now it is still a movement designed to bring unity in the service of the country, Benitez said.
Initial officers have been appointed and an election will be held later, he added.
The other officers of KNP are Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan, 6th District) – vice president for Luzon, Rep. Richard Gomez (Leyte, 4th District) – vice president for Visayas, Rep. Divina Grace Yu (Zamboanga, del Sur 1st District) – vice president for Mindanao, Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin – vice president for National Capital Region;
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 2nd District) – secretary general, Rep. Ria Vergara (Nueva Ecija, 3rd District) – deputy secretary general for Luzon, Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez (Manila 1st District) – deputy secretary general for NCR;
Rep. Zaldy Villa (Siquijor) – deputy secretary general for Visayas, Shirlyn Bañas – (defeated 2022 General Santos mayoral candidate) – deputy secretary general for Mindanao, Rep. Rida Robes (San Jose Del Monte) – treasurer, and Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) – auditor.
KNP is present in more than 18 areas in the country, Benitez said.
Benitez joked that KNP means Kaibigan ng Pangulo (friends of the president).
The creation of the KNP as a national party was decided long before Vice President Sara Duterte resigned from the Lakas CMD, he said.
“We felt the call of unity is really what the country needs,” he said.
The president knows about the KNP and once they get accredited they will ask for an audience with him, Benitez said.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is also aware of the KNP and was at its Christmas Party, Benitez said.
“All the parties aligned with the administration and embracing the unity call, we will be forming alliances with them,” Benitez said.
Benitez said there are people from Negros Occidental who have expressed interest in joining but they are completing the KNP accreditation with the Comelec first.
He will also discuss the KNP with the Visayas bloc in Congress when the accreditation process is completed, Benitez added.*