by JP LOPEZ (Malaya)
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03112010/news4.htmlKABACAN, Cotabato – Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar yesterday apologized to religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for his failure to attend the presidential forum Tuesday in Davao City.
The forum, organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which was founded by Quiboloy, featured presidential bets former President Joseph Estrada, Gilberto Teodoro, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and Eddie Villanueva.
Aside from Villar, Liberal Party’s Benigno Aquino III also failed to attend the forum.
Aquino, in letter to Quiboloy, claimed he was advised by his doctor to skip traveling by air for two days due to a nasal ailment.
Villar was reported to have stayed at a nearby hotel in Davao City for the duration of the forum.
"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin subalit grabe talaga ang demand ng kampanya at nakita ninyo naman na kulang na kulang ang oras sa pag-ikot. Talagang hirap na hirap ang mga kandidato at talagang malakas ang pressure considering na dalawang buwan nalang ang nalalabi sa kampanya," Villar said in an interview after he arrived at the University of Southern Mindanao in this town.
Villar did not elaborate on his absence.
Villar said he has failed to show up in several forums due to a number of reasons. He said he had already explained to the organizers the reasons behind his absence.
"Marami naman talaga akong hindi (napupuntahan) na forum... maraming kadahilanan, ayoko na mag-specify," he said.
"Yung mga nangyari ay para sa amin na lamang, kami na lamang ang nag-uusap," he added.
Aquino said he would seek a dialogue with Quiboloy.
"When I go to Davao I will seek an audience and explain to him. It (absence in the forum) is something beyond my control," he told a press conference in Zamboanga City.
Aquino said his doctors had advised him to avoid traveling by air for at least two days because of barosinusitis which, according to a medical dictionary, "is a risk factor for anyone exposed to ambient pressure changes."
"A lot of people are susceptible to complications if they fly because of changes in atmospheric pressure. My doc advised me to let the medicines (take effect)," he said.
"I still have a cold at this time. I had a problem during the Mayon crisis prior to Christmas. I flew to Legazpi. When I got back to Manila, fluid entered my middle ear and it took three weeks to clear. Instead of air it was filled with fluid. In worst cases you can rupture eardrums," he added.
Quiboloy on Tuesday failed to hide his disappointment on the no-show of the two leading presidential contenders, based on surveys.
"It’s unfair to them (those who appeared), it’s unfair to us and it’s unfair to the Filipino people," said Quiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ boasts of six million members. – With Wendell Vigilia
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