Notwithstanding internal disagreements, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) on Tuesday formally approved its merger with the dominant party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

"We decided to embark on this brave new venture of coming up with the largest political party in the country in partnership with Lakas," said Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno in an opening statement.

"Everybody knows that when Kampi makes a stand, everybody stands together. We hope that in this new merged party, that this unity will be infectious... so that we may come upon the elections in 2010 as a united party in pursuit of a united nation. We are going to do this in baby steps," Puno added.

Kampi President Luis Villafuerte was curiously absent during the meeting, where the national council unanimosuly approved Joint Resolution 1, which declares the "merger to a unified party" of Lakas-CMD and Kampi.

The merged party will be called Lakas-Kampi-CMD and will be registered at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Four other resolutions related to the merger were approved.

Based on a draft provided to reporters, Villafuerte is not among the signatories. Kampi chairman Ronaldo Puno and secretary-general Jose Solis are the signatories.

On the part of Lakas-CMD, party president House Speaker Prospero Nograles and secretary-general Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri are the signatories.

Puno said the resolutions will be presented on Thursday when the two parties will officially merge. President Arroyo will preside.

Villafuerte  absent

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga told reporters that Villafuerte informed the party that he could not attend the meeting. He said Villafuerte did not offer any excuse.

A high-ranking Kampi official told reporters that Villafuerte wanted to delay the merger until the local conflicts between Lakas and Kampi members are resolved.

Villafuerte was in a Tuesday morning hearing at the House of Representatives, but he could not be reached through his two mobile phone numbers.

Around 63 Kampi members attended the meeting. Originally, it was only supposed to be a meeting of the national executive council--the national leaders--but the local officials were later called in to discuss the merger with Lakas.

abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak earlier reported that more Lakas than Kampi members will benefit from the equity of the incumbent policy that is being adopted by the committee on merger.