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Monday, April 02, 2007
Palace allows secret campaigning by military (2 p.m.)
MANILA -- Malacanang said members of the military could support any candidates they want as long as they do not campaign for them openly.
"The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can just exercise their rights of suffrage. If they support anybody they have to keep quiet about it, they cannot campaign for anybody," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
Ermita also said the soldiers are even free to make "donations" to any candidates that they want as it does not necessarily mean that they engage in partisan politics.
Ermita was referring to the possible presence of some soldiers in a fund-raising concert for the senatorial bid of Magdalo Group leader Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV Saturday night at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan.
Among the personalities that attended the event top-billed by singer-comedienne Marissa Sanchez and band Retrospect were former ambassador Roy Señeres and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) director Jose Alcuaz.
The tickets cost P1,200 each but the venue was not packed as there were several seats left unoccupied. Alcuaz said there were also still many unsold tickets.
He however said one horse owner, whom he did not name, pledged to pay for the video ad of Trillanes, which would be shown at the Sta. Ana race track. The video refers to Trillanes' commitment to fight corruption if elected citing controversies in government like alleged overpriced Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and the reported purchase of overpriced school armchairs.
Ermita reiterated that there is nothing wrong with Trillanes' decision to run for senator or in the decision of two of his classmates to seek an elective post.
Reports said aside from Trillanes, his fellow Philippine Military Academy batch 1995 classmates Captains Dante Langkit and Jerry Mabulo are running for congressman of Apayao and mayor of Fernando town in Camarines Sur, respectively.(Sunnex) |
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