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Thursday, December 11, 2003
Lakas-NPC deal put off
CEBU -- A manifesto local Lakas officials faxed to Manila early Wednesday morning succeeded in putting off the signing of what was supposed to be the agreement on the alliance of the administration party and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) in Cebu Province.
President Arroyo, who came to Cebu Wednesday specifically to see the merger of what she described as Cebu's "two biggest political parties," ended up appealing to local Lakas members at least thrice during her speech to become "agents of unity."
She acceded to the appeal of local Lakas officials to call off the signing during the Lakas-CMD-NPC "gathering for unity" at the Cebu Grand Convention Center. But she threw back to them the task of resolving their issues.
"I have enough faith in the leaders of Cebu that after we meet today and break bread, I go back to work again on the economy and not on partisan negotiations," Arroyo said.
For his part, Vice Gov. John Gregory "John-John" Osmeņa appealed to local leaders to unite next year in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the election of his grandfather, Don Sergio Osmeņa Sr., as Cebu governor.
"We could hopefully go back to a united province and deliver to the President the majority she so deserves," he said in his speech.
That was the first time the vice governor, son of opposition Sen. John Osmeņa, openly declared his support for Arroyo, who arrived in Mactan at 11 a.m. and left almost two hours later.
Although no signing was made, Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Gabriel Claudio and Presidential Spokesman on political matters Michael Defensor still considered the activity successful because they forged a unity among Cebu's political leaders to support Arroyo's presidential bid next year.
Defensor said in a news conference that they have to work on the other kind of unity: one that will bring together local Lakas and NPC candidates.
If an alliance in the local level fails, he said it is possible that leaders here will only be united in supporting Arroyo's presidential bid and field their own candidates to run against each other in the province and in the towns and cities.
Rep. Ace Durano (Cebu, 5th district), NPC secretary-general, said that Cebu was to have been a "model" of the alliance elsewhere in the country.
Because the signing of the covenant here was postponed, they had to call off similar activities in six other provinces.
Durano told reporters later that he told Arroyo, "With all due respect, Madam President, you will have to resolve the issues within Lakas before we enter into a coalition" and that on their part, they were already "prepared."
John-john, NPC's candidate for governor, said, "the ball is now in the local Lakas court."
Six of seven Cebuano congressmen and all of the mayors and other local officials allied with NPC attended the lunch gathering Wednesday that lasted about two hours.
Only Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) was absent.
On the other hand, as another manifestation of protest, only three Lakas members were present: Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez (4th district), Gov. Pablo Garcia and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
Martinez, whom the President asked in Manila to join her in her flight to Cebu, said she told Arroyo "the truth and nothing but the truth" about their opposition to the alliance because they were not consulted.
This brought her faction of Lakas and Garcia's together. She said they are now at least on "talking terms" with the governor.
The group of Garcia and Agriculture Undersecretary Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr., Clavel's husband, faxed their manifesto to Malacaņang past 2 a.m. Wednesday after emissaries met at the Capitol social hall since the night before.
Garcia, members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) and mayors said they were "shocked and disappointed" over the proposed covenant because this was "utterly repugnant to the most elementary principles of justice and fairness."
They asked Arroyo not to sign the covenant on their behalf because this would show not only the "wanton disregard of the Cebu provincial chapter of Lakas-CMD" but also that they have been "completely abandoned and alienated."
The group also asked Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon to be "more careful and prudent in dealing with politicians in Cebu."
They further said Guanzon "should refrain from meddling in political affairs, much less, in brokering any political arrangement in Cebu without prior notice and consultation with the leaders of Lakas-CMD here."
They blame Guanzon for masterminding the alliance, as well as the proposal to team up John-john and Bogo Mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III for Capitol's top posts.
Arroyo left at 1 p.m. after lunch, where she shared a table with John-john, Garcia and Clavel.
They were joined by House Speaker Jose de Venecia and Representatives Durano, Simeon Kintanar, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Guanzon.
Arroyo arrived with de Venecia, Clavel, Defensor, Claudio, Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun and Press Undersecretary Claro Fernandez.
(December 11, 2003 issue)
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