 President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, newly elected Chairman of the Liberal Party (LP), receives the party's symbol of authority from Senator Franklin Drilon during the election of officers coinciding with the party's national executive council meeting Wednesday January 19, 2011 at the Gabaldon Hall, Club Filipino, San Juan City. Witnessing the turn-over ceremony is re-elected party President former Senator Manuel Roxas II.The new set of LP officers are Cavite 1st District Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, Secretary-General; DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, Executive Vice President, Sen. Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Vice Chairmen; Batanes Lone District Representative Henedina Abad, VP for Policy and (not in the photo) Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali Jr., as Treasurer. The Liberal Party was founded in 1946 by President Manuel Roxas from what was once the "Liberal Wing" of the old Nacionalista Party. (Photo by: Rolando Mailo/Malacaņang Photo Bureau/PCOO-NIB) |