From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=561749&publicationSubCategoryId=63
By Charlie Lagasca
SANTIAGO, Isabela , Philippines – The Liberal Party (LP) is getting desperate as it is now hurling all charges against its closest rival in the presidential race following its dwindling lead in the surveys.
Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said this was evident in the LP’s allegations of his being the secret candidate of the administration.
Villar said the accusations of a “Villaroyo” collusion were a sign of the depths of desperation the LP would go to just to destroy the reputation of a rival.
“They are now getting desperate by trying to link every issue against me, like the Villaroyo issue which is baseless and unfounded,” Villar said.
Villar stressed the NP slate is campaigning on its own by utilizing his own resources to maintain the campaign compared to rivals who have financial backing from other sources besides having well-oiled party machinery.
“That Villaroyo issue against me has no basis. I have never talked to the President or to the First Gentleman since they removed me as Senate president. I owe nothing to anybody as far as my (campaign expenses) are concerned,” he said.
Villar said he is more than ready to engage in a debate with LP bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III but stressed that it should be under terms acceptable to both parties.
“We had accepted their challenge to a debate sometime ago, but we want this to be a fair debate and not a biased one favoring one side,” he said.
Villar said he is not trying to avoid any issue during the debate. “We only want to ensure that everything is aboveboard,” he said.
Villar made the remark amid reports that Aquino is getting impatient to start a debate with the NP presidential bet.
He said he would not push the issue of debating with Aquino since he had already grown tired of waiting for a response.
As this developed, a reelectionist congressman belonging to the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD predicted Villar would emerge the winner in Cebu.
Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s first congressional district said the current political situation in the province where all congressmen and local leaders are supporting a common candidate would favor Villar in the May 10 elections.
“If Cebu delivered a million votes for President Arroyo in 2004, this time Cebu will again deliver a million votes for Villar. Cebu will deliver the presidency for Villar,” Gullas declared.
Gullas revealed Villar has garnered the support of the local leaders during a closed-door meeting the other day.
He said five of the six congressmen, including him, met with Villar who forged an alliance with the local party Kusug whose mayoralty candidate for Cebu is Alvin Garcia, the first cousin of Gov. Gwen Garcia.
Gullas said only Rep. Red Durano has not made a clear commitment to Villar.
Despite the developments, Governor Garcia said she would still honor her commitment to support administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro.
While representatives Pablo Garcia and Pablo John Garcia did not reveal what transpired during the meeting with Villar and other Cebu congressmen, Gullas remarked “just look at their faces in the pictures that appeared in the newspapers.”
Gullas said what would happen is that the two Garcia congressmen will naturally support Gwen in her re-election bid.
“They will not abandon her. Family unity is very important to them. But watch what happens. Cebu will deliver for Villar. It will be like 2004 all over again,” Gullas said.
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=561749&publicationSubCategoryId=63
By Charlie Lagasca
SANTIAGO, Isabela , Philippines – The Liberal Party (LP) is getting desperate as it is now hurling all charges against its closest rival in the presidential race following its dwindling lead in the surveys.
Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said this was evident in the LP’s allegations of his being the secret candidate of the administration.
Villar said the accusations of a “Villaroyo” collusion were a sign of the depths of desperation the LP would go to just to destroy the reputation of a rival.
“They are now getting desperate by trying to link every issue against me, like the Villaroyo issue which is baseless and unfounded,” Villar said.
Villar stressed the NP slate is campaigning on its own by utilizing his own resources to maintain the campaign compared to rivals who have financial backing from other sources besides having well-oiled party machinery.
“That Villaroyo issue against me has no basis. I have never talked to the President or to the First Gentleman since they removed me as Senate president. I owe nothing to anybody as far as my (campaign expenses) are concerned,” he said.
Villar said he is more than ready to engage in a debate with LP bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III but stressed that it should be under terms acceptable to both parties.
“We had accepted their challenge to a debate sometime ago, but we want this to be a fair debate and not a biased one favoring one side,” he said.
Villar said he is not trying to avoid any issue during the debate. “We only want to ensure that everything is aboveboard,” he said.
Villar made the remark amid reports that Aquino is getting impatient to start a debate with the NP presidential bet.
He said he would not push the issue of debating with Aquino since he had already grown tired of waiting for a response.
As this developed, a reelectionist congressman belonging to the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD predicted Villar would emerge the winner in Cebu.
Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s first congressional district said the current political situation in the province where all congressmen and local leaders are supporting a common candidate would favor Villar in the May 10 elections.
“If Cebu delivered a million votes for President Arroyo in 2004, this time Cebu will again deliver a million votes for Villar. Cebu will deliver the presidency for Villar,” Gullas declared.
Gullas revealed Villar has garnered the support of the local leaders during a closed-door meeting the other day.
He said five of the six congressmen, including him, met with Villar who forged an alliance with the local party Kusug whose mayoralty candidate for Cebu is Alvin Garcia, the first cousin of Gov. Gwen Garcia.
Gullas said only Rep. Red Durano has not made a clear commitment to Villar.
Despite the developments, Governor Garcia said she would still honor her commitment to support administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro.
While representatives Pablo Garcia and Pablo John Garcia did not reveal what transpired during the meeting with Villar and other Cebu congressmen, Gullas remarked “just look at their faces in the pictures that appeared in the newspapers.”
Gullas said what would happen is that the two Garcia congressmen will naturally support Gwen in her re-election bid.
“They will not abandon her. Family unity is very important to them. But watch what happens. Cebu will deliver for Villar. It will be like 2004 all over again,” Gullas said.
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