Thursday, February 15, 2007 Senator's 'silent campaign' endangers status: opposition
THE United Opposition (UNO) will ask Senator Francis Pangilinan to clarify his position on campaign matters even as they denied reports of a rift within their ranks.
This, after Pangilinan was quoted as saying he will "silently" campaign for two of his colleagues at the so-called Wednesday Group, Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto, who have decided to run under the administration ticket.
"He made a statement yesterday (Tuesday) that he will support the candidacy of Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto so we have to clarify it. On the other side of that, if he is really going to support two other candidates outside our ticket, then maybe the 11 other candidates of the United Opposition may not feel obligated to support him," said former senator Ernesto Maceda, UNO executive committee member, in a briefing at Makati city.
He added that Pangilinan's position could have serious repercussions for the opposition as it means he would drop two of the opposition's candidates.
Maceda said Pangilinan would not be eliminated from the opposition's senatorial line-up even if he campaigns for Arroyo and Recto.
"There is no consideration on removing him from the slate. We adopted him simply because he is not with the administration. Ii is clear that in July 2005 he asked for the resignation of the President so clearly his position from that time is aligned with the sentiment of the opposition," added Maceda.
UNO president and Makati mayor Jejomar Binay said he would talk with Pangilinan to thresh out the issue as he denied reports of a rift in the ranks of the opposition.
He said Pangilinan is still welcome in the opposition and they have no intention of dropping him from their slate, adding that the issue was all about campaign mechanics especially when the campaign hits the ground.
Meanwhile, UNO spokesman Adel Tamano chided the administration's Unity Ticket for its campaign strategy saying that it smacked of "patronage politics and command vote."
Tamano was referring to the statement of the administration's campaign manager Reli German that their campaign strategy hinges on the support of the local officials.
"Their strategy is very clear. The administration's team is afraid to go to the people and present the issues that needed explanation. It showed patronage politics and command vote," said the coalition's spokesperson.
The opposition senatorial candidates will barnstorm the southern part of Metro Manila starting in Parañaque City and then they go to Muntinlupa and Las Piñas cities. (AH/Sunnex)
