MANILA - After forging an alliance with the leftist party-list group, Akbayan, the Liberal Party (LP) announced Thursday that it was working out a tie-up with detained rebel soldiers to strengthen its 2010 election campaign.

Former Senate President Frank Drilon, LP national chairman, said he and the party's secretary-general, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, met with detained military general Danilo Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes in Camp Crame on Thursday morning to propose a political alliance.

"They were very receptive with the proposal we put before them, given that the Liberal Party and the Magdalo Group share a common reform agenda to bring about dynamic and effective governance," Drilon said. 

Lim, a bemedalled Army officer, staged a failed rebellion in February 2006 during the 20th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt. Trillanes is facing a rebellion charge for the Manila Peninsula hotel siege in Makati City in November 2007.

Drilon said the LP is considering Lim as one its senatorial candidates for 2010.

“The possible inclusion of General Lim will definitely give the LP senatorial slate a big boost because of his reputation as a staunch reform advocate in Philippine society,” the former senator said.

The LP's move came after it entered into a similar political alliance with the Akbayan party-list group. The LP will include Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros in its 12-man senatorial lineup.

The party said it was also engaged in talks with other "progressive and reform-oriented" political groups for possible partnerships in the upcoming national elections.

The LP is pushing for Senator Mar Roxas as its presidential candidate although LP member Noynoy Aquino has emerged as an alternative bet for 2010.

LP leaders have said that if Sen. Aquino declares he is running for president, they will hold a convention next month to choose its presidential candidate.