|
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Marawi mayor claims Gudani biased for FPJ
By Lino Dela Cruz
Iligan correspondent
MARAWI CITY -- Brigadier General Francisco Gudani, former commander of the 2nd Philippine Marines Brigade and Task Force Ranao who was assigned here during the 2004 presidential election, was partisan and indirectly involved in the campaign for then presidential candidate the late Fernando Poe Jr., according to the mayor of this city.
Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali said, "Gudani is a good and decorated officer but he was found to be pro-FPJ and his wife who visited Marawi city several times before the election, was actively campaigning for FPJ".
Ali said there were two reasons why Gudani was removed from his command for at least 12 days during the 2004 elections here.
First, Ali said because there was a military investigation involving Gudani's unit in a shooting incident with some followers of a politician in front of the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium here, which was used as a canvassing center.
"His relief was a reasonable move to prevent him from influencing the on-going investigation," said Ali.
Second, Gudani's wife was actively campaigning for FPJ during her several visits to this city, Ali said.
"Because of these reasons, Gudani cannot claim that he was temporarily relieved to give opportunity to the Commission on Election (Comelec) officers to cheat or manipulate the elections results" Ali said.
Ali further said, "On the contrary, Gudani was himself deeply involved in partisan political activity disregarding the prohibitions of his being a military officer who is not supposed to be involved in politics".
Ali said he could not believe that P500 million was allegedly brought by First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo to Mindanao to be distributed to political allies and supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"Mike Arroyo visited Davao City three months before the 2004 election but not in the Muslim areas here, I will definitely know if there was substantial money given to Muslim officials and politicians," the mayor said.
"The fact is, I myself, a city mayor, was only given some P150,000.00 by the administration party Lakas-CMD that was for the payment of allowances of our poll watchers and nothing more," Ali revealed.
Ali also noted that none of his relatives, constituents and friends in Iligan City could recall if the first gentleman went there before the election.
(October 1, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
