Edu Manzano clears issues over his candidacy

DAGUPAN CITY -- Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice presidential bet Edu Manzano refutes the notion that the non-endorsement of him and running mate Gilberto Teodoro by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a kiss-of-death to their candidacies.

He said they don’t feel any negative effect wherever they go around the country.

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“The President has a lot of food on her plate. Malapit ng matapos ang term, everybody would like to leave in style, or in grace,” he remarked in an interview at CSI Citymall here Sunday.

“In our case, hindi kayo maniniwala talaga sa aggressiveness ng aming campaign; lively phase (from one place to another), kahit na sino hindi makakasabay sa aming campaign. Kahit saan kami pumunta, very warm ang mga tao who come in thousands at kami ay natutuwa,” he remarked.

Manzano, accompanied by senatorial candidate Raul Lambino, who hails from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, attended the Global and Thanksgiving and Worship Presentation of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy held here.

Other national candidates also attended the event.

Arriving early at the CSI Citymall, Manzano and Lambino took the opportunity and went around the mall shaking hands with the shoppers.

Manzano said their party has no problem with regards to funds.

“First and foremost, hindi ibinibigay sa amin ang pondo. Ang aming usapan, (we) just campaign and they will provide the materials, the vehicles, transportation, the point people pagdating sa ibat ibang lugar. May mga ibang hitches in the past pero naplantsa na yon. We’re happy with the flow of the campaign, maganda ang strategies ng ating mga party strategists,” he said.

Unlike other candidates for president and vice president, Manzano said they don’t really need to get the help or services of celebrities.

“As a matter of fact, even without yong sinasabi nilang celebrity endorsers and showbiz friends, people are coming out to receive out and to listen to us. That’s the most important aspect. At the end of the day, kahit sino ang endorser mo kung hindi maganda ang platform at programa mo, kahit sino pa ang mag-endorse sa yo ay walang mangyayari,” he said.

Manzano admitted that his game show Game Ka Na Ba? over ABS-CBN opened the door for him to take part in this year’s elections.

“Yon ang nagbukas ng pinto. Ang problema lang ay kung papayagan kang pumasok sa loob ng bahay. And that would only happen kung naniniwala sila sa yo, sa platform at sa programa,” he stated.

On the issue about backing out from the race, Manzano said matter-of-factly: “Sabi namin ni Gibo, come what may, we will finish this election.”