MANILA, Philippines -- The ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats will have a new president by February 28, a ranking official told INQUIRER.net on Monday.

Lakas executive director Ray Roquero said it was ?inevitable? that the party would have a new president when its national directorate committee would convene on February 28.

?By February 28, we will have a new president and I think that?s inevitable,? Roquero said over the phone.

He said there were now ongoing negotiations to convince the party?s incumbent president, Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia Jr., to step down from his post and avoid a similar confrontation when he was ousted as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Only 25 out of more than 90 Lakas members in the House voted for De Venecia to stay on as Speaker.

?I think, it?s best that he steps down para maging smooth na lang ang proseso [so that the process will be smooth]. Pangit naman kung matatalo pa siya sa voting [It won?t look nice if he would still lose in the voting],? Roquero said.

?In fact, there are proposals na gawin na lang siyang honorary president or especial envoy to CDI [Christian Democrats International] of the party,? Roquero said.

Another Lakas official confirmed that administration supporters went to De Venecia?s residence in Makati City to convince him to tender his resignation as party president.

The same official also disclosed that De Venecia and former president Fidel Ramos met Saturday but the source was not privy to the discussion.

Roquero said calls for De Venecia?s resignation as Lakas president had snowballed after the ousted Speaker met with opposition leader and former president Joseph Estrada last Thursday.

Another Lakas official said even Ramos was so mad by De Venecia?s meeting with Estrada.

?Kahit si FVR [Ramos? initial] galit na galit [Even Ramos was very angry]. Dapat hindi na muna niya ginawa yun [He should not have done that]. Lalo pa niyang dinidiin ang kanyang sarili [He is sinking himself all the more],? the official said.

At the House, Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said he would take the floor on Tuesday to explain to the people why De Venecia had been removed from his post.

Villafuerte said he was not at all unfazed by De Venecia?s threats to expose the alleged irregularities in this present administration.

?Why doesn?t he try it? Let him say what he wants to say. He will be on the losing end. He decides to speak after he gets ousted? Why is he complaining only now?? he said in Filipino over the phone.

?Kapag nagsalita siya, ang isasagot ko lang sa kanya -- ipokrito siya, sinungaling at walang paninindigan [If he speaks, I will only tell him -- he is a hypocrite and has no conviction],? he said.