Manny fights ‘Villaroyo’ tag, cuts Noynoy’s lead to 8 pts

By Butch Fernandez

From Business Mirror

Link: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23993:manny-fights-villaroyo-tag-cuts-noynoys-lead-to-8-pts&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

NACIONALISTA Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar bounced back in the end-March Social Weather Stations survey with a 29-percent rating, cutting the lead (from 12 to 8 points) posted by his closest rival, Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III, in an earlier Pulse Asia survey.



Admitting that his survey ratings were partly affected by the “Villaroyo” tag thrown at him by his opponents, Villar revealed in an interview that he was, in fact, having problems recruiting supporters in the countryside to back the NP campaign because President Arroyo herself had been stopping local leaders from doing so.



“Alam mo, problema ko nga ngayon, mga sumasali sa amin pinipigil ng Pangulo,” Villar said over the weekend. He recalled that since October last year, there were many party recruits who were ready to join the NP campaign “pero tinatawagan ng Pangulo at pinipigil.”



Up to now, he added, the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD is working on beefing up its ranks, holding party meetings to stop defectors from leaving. “Hanggang ngayon ay nagpapalakas pa ang Lakas at nagpa-meeting at talagang kinukumbinsi lahat na huwag lumipat ng partido.”



This shows, Villar said, that the “Villaroyo” tag and other black propaganda linking him to Arroyo and here husband, Miguel, were all blatant lies spun by his “panicking” political foes. But he added that he expected more of these underhanded tactics to intensify as election day draws near.



“Patuloy ang aming panliligaw sa mga local officials at maraming sumasama sa amin, at syempre marami ring napipigilan ang administrasyon,” he said, even as he insisted that “kalaban namin ang [Arroyo] administrasyon. Nililiwanag namin na oposisyon kami. In fact, hindi pa kami nag-usap ng Pangulo simula na ako ay alisin nila na pangulo ng Senado. Hindi ako humihingi ng pera at wala akong balak na humingi ng pera sa kanila.”



Villar explained that before believing his opponents, voters should realize that he was once Speaker of the House where most of the incumbent congressmen and governors, who were former congressmen as well, were all his allies in the nine years that he served in the House of Representatives.

Gibo invades Fernando territory

from The Philippine Star

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560689&publicationSubCategoryId=65

MANILA, Philippines - Former defense chief and Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro took his campaign sortie yesterday to Marikina City, the bailiwick of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, who bolted the administration party after Teodoro defeated him in the party’s presidential nomination late last year.

Teodoro, whose late grandfather is from Marikina, was welcomed by mayoralty bet Dr. Alfredo Cheng and other local candidates.

“He is the most competent and qualified among the candidates,” said Cheng during a mini-rally in Barangay Calumpang attended by Teodoro, senatorial candidate Rey Langit and Mark Lambino, who represented his father, senatorial candidate Raul Lambino.

Teodoro said all residential development in Marikina should be vertical in order to spare residents from floods. He said this should have been done before but this was not addressed by concerned government agencies, especially those involved in housing development.

The Fernandos have ruled the city for almost a decade and have focused their efforts into converting the city into a tourist attraction.

Teodoro, Manzano, Senate bets in rare group sortie

By TJ Burgonio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100320-259774/Teodoro-Manzano-Senate-bets-in-rare-group-sortie

MANILA, Philippines—Administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and senatorial candidates Silvestre Bello III and Raul Lambino Friday appeared together in a rare group sortie in Valenzuela City.

Teodoro, Bello and Lambino each gave a pep talk during an uproarious student forum at the Our Lady of Fatima University campus in Valenzuela City. Manzano caught up with them at the tail-end at the forum.

“We’re halfway there already. I guess this is a sign that we’re here for the long haul. We’ve committed to the party; we’ve committed to the people. Gibo and and I said we’ll finish this election,” Manzano later said in an interview as he waved at the crowd from the back of a truck during a motorcade from the campus to the city interiors.

Grumblings about funds

Their rare appearance together came on the heels of grumblings in Manzano’s camp and among the senatorial candidates about Lakas Kampi-CMD funds not trickling down to their level.

Since the Feb. 9 kick-off of the campaign, Teodoro, Manzano and the six senatorial candidates have mostly barnstormed Metro Manila and the countryside on their own.

Teodoro, Manzano and some of the senatorial candidates also barnstormed Butuan City in Agusan del Norte last Thursday, and had dinner with President Macapagal-Arroyo at the birthday celebration of Rep. Jose Aquino II.

Lambino conceded that campaigning alone has its advantages, like covering more areas to campaign for the presidential team, but has a big downside to it: the perception that “we’re disunited.”

Teodoro said the public would see more of them campaigning together once the campaign period for local officials kicks off March 26, but said the senatorial candidates would be campaigning in two teams to cover more ground.

Not awash in funds

“Our schedules jibed today. But when local campaign kicks in, we will be campaigning together. The senators will still have two teams,” he told reporters after the forum.

But the issue of funds will not simply go away.

“There is fund, but that’s a precious and limited resource. We’re not awash in funds. We should use this judiciously,” said Teodoro, who claimed he had received funds from the party.

The forum at the Fatima University was generally boisterous, with female students shrieking at the sight of TV personality Jolo Revilla and jostling for the chance to give him a buss, and more so, at Manzano who came in last at around 11:30 a.m.

The young Revilla campaigned for his father, reelectionist Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and so did Patrick Guico for his father, Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan. The party’s two other senatorial candidates are Sen. Lito Lapid and broadcaster Rey Langit.

Election rules on posters Offenders all, Comelec says of major candidates

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100320-259769/Election-rules-on-posters

MANILA, Philippines—Equal offenders all.

This was how the Commission on Elections described candidates for national office when it comes to following the law as their political advertisements continue to litter the streets of Metro Manila.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on Friday said the poll body has found that several presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates have posters and streamers in violation of size limits in the Fair Elections Law.

“We recently went on a drive across the city and we took pictures. It seems that it is widespread and commonplace. It’s not limited to a particular candidate or block. Everyone is equally in violation, it would seem,” Jimenez said.

The rule says that posters should not exceed 2 feet by 3 feet while streamers should be no more than 3 feet by 8 feet.

Oversized

Jimenez said many of the streamers and posters they found during their inspection violated these size limits. Many were also out of place and were posted in public infrastructures.

Jimenez said compliance with the poster regulations has been “dismal.” Candidates do not own up to the violations and blame their supporters for putting up the posters.

But the Comelec will not accept this alibi, he said.

“They must be reminded that according to the implementing rules of RA 9006, a candidate will also be held liable for the violations committed by his supporter,” he said.

Jimenez identified the offending streamers as those of presidential candidates Sen. Noynoy Aquino (Roxas Blvd. cor Vito Cruz); Gilbert Teodoro (Edsa Southbound); Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay (Edsa North Ave., Philam); Sen. Richard Gordon; and Sen. Manuel Villar (Edsa cor. Reliance St.).

The rest belonged to vice-presidential candidate Bayani Fernando (Edsa Cubao, and Shell North Luzon Tollway, Burol Balagtas, Bulacan); senatorial candidates Sen. Lito Lapid (Edsa cor. Reliance St.) JV Bautista (Edsa near Nepa Q-Mart) and Rey Langit (in front of the MMDA office near Edsa Guadalupe).

Three days to comply

Jimenez said the Comelec has also received reports that these candidates have been littering the provinces with their propaganda materials.

The candidates have three days from receiving notice to remove the offending materials.

Those found guilty of an election offense face imprisonment up to six years, disqualification from public and government office, and revocation of the right to vote.

Early this week, the Comelec notified Gordon, Fernando and Bangon Pilipinas presidential bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva about removing their giant billboards on South Luzon Expressway, Edsa and Quiapo, Manila, respectively.

Teodoro urges Mindanao residents to stop culture of violence

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558467&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. yesterday urged Mindanao residents to stop the culture of violence that has been hampering development in the region and instead promote lasting peace.

Teodoro was referring to the practice of “rido” or blood debt, which he said stands in the way of progress in Mindanao.

The rido culture, a ritual killing anchored on revenge, is most common among Muslim clans as well as other tribes in the region.

“If we would persist in implementing the ‘eye for an eye’ for every offense committed against us, then the whole world will go blind,” Teodoro told local political and tribal leaders in Mindanao in a recent dialogue.

He said that while he respects Muslim traditions, there are some practices that spawn hatred and murder among members of the religion.

“If we can get our Muslim brothers to forget about this senseless tradition of rido and get them to stop carrying guns in their culture, I believe that Mindanao will be able to reach its maximum economic potential,” the presidential aspirant said.

10,000 Caloocan voters back ‘Gibo’

by BEN R. ROSARIO (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246368/10000-caloocan-voters-back-gibo

At least 10,000 Caloocan City voters formally pledged Monday to vote only the most qualified candidates in the May 10 elections as their contribution to ensure political harmony and high growth in the country into the next decade.

Former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. led residents of Barangay Bagong Silang, in a mass-recital of the “Panatang Makabago” containing a voter’s commitment in pushing for the victory of only the most qualified candidates.

Bagong Silang folk, mostly belonging to the urban poor sector, mobbed Teodoro as they aired the belief that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet’s qualities as a leader best fits the presidency.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD officials noted that the Caloocan City campaign sortie provided the warmest reception yet for Teodoro although he was also warmly welcomed in Malabon.

Leaders in at least 16 purok and barangay officials declared publicly their support for Teodoro during the jampacked gathering at a basketball court.

Leaders of 11 organizations representing the different districts in Caloocan had also expressed their full support for Teodoro, his vice-presidential bet Edu Manzano and the ruling party’s six senatorial bets—reelectionist Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, lawyer Raul Lambino, former Cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello, media personality Rey Langit and Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico.

Thousands of cheering people lined the streets as his convoy passed through on Phase 7, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City

Gibo to NWPC: Review petitions for P75 daily wage increase

by Ryan Ponce Pacpaco (Journal Online)

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/4343-gibo-to-nwpc-review-petitions-for-p75-daily-wage-increase-.html

ADMINISTRATION presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro yesterday said the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) should be allowed to review the petitions for a P75 across-the-board daily wage increase for workers in Metro Manila.

Teodoro, the standard-bearer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said he is leaving to wage board the fate of the request of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the wage increase.

“The tripartite system should work, the wage board should be allowed to work and their decisions. I want to make the system works, that’s up to the regional wage boards,” Teodoro told reporters in his campaign sortie at Caloocan City Tuesday night.

Sought for comment, broadcaster Rey Langit and Atty. Raul Lambino, borth senatorial candidates of Lakas-Kampi-CMD who accompanied Teodoro on their campaign sorties in Malabon and Caloocan Cities, backed wage increase to workers but underscored the need for an extensive consultation with employers to ensure that it can withstand the amount of increase.