|
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Duterte hits Nograles over Kalahi
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave a mouthful against House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles whom the mayor accused of not having kept his part of the bargain.
In a meeting with the barangay chiefs Friday, Duterte explicitly said he is not voting for the party-list group where Nograles's son, Karlo, is a nominee.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Join Sun.Star's online hotline with Comelec spokesman James Jimenez from May 14 (Monday), 6 a.m. to May 15 (Tuesday), 6 a.m. (RP time) and report poll-related incidents in your area.
"I am not voting for Kalahi, I am not even endorsing or campaigning for this party-list," was the opening statement of Duterte when he met with different barangay captains from the three congressional districts of Davao City.
"I am endorsing three party-lists, namely Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and Anak Pawis, Kalahi is not included," added Duterte.
Duterte explained that Kalahi, which so suddenly is making its present felt, has been causing confusion among supporters of the local Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod because the new partylist is being endorsed by Representative Nograles.
Nograles, said Duterte, has been intensely campaigning for Kalahi, disregarding the candidates of the administration's Team Unity.
"I am very dismayed and disappointed with Boy Nograles," Duterte said.
"It was very clear from the start. I have been saying it and I have been telling the people. Boy will decide who we will support for the national and I will decide for the local. I have kept my end of the deal. But now I have been doing all the campaigning myself," the mayor added.
Nograles, according to Hugpong, has not attended a single campaign rally of the Hugpong-Team Unity ticket.
Nograles was also absent when the administration's Team Unity was here in the city for a campaign sortie in April and was again missing during their Miting de Avance early last week in Agdao.
Aside from not helping with the campaign, Duterte revealed that Nograles junked Hugpong 3rd district congressional candidate Isidro Ungab in favor of opposition candidate Rene Lopez.
"I even feel that he has no interest in campaigning for Vincent Garcia," Duterte said.
Garcia is the official Hugpong-Team Unity congressional candidate for the second district.
Surprised
Nograles meanwhile expressed surprise on Duterte's tirades against him.
The lawmaker explained that he did his part of the bargain by extensively campaigning for the Team Unity slate, which is what he and Duterte agreed upon.
"My focus has always been all national and not local candidates as agreed. Senators congressmen and party-list representatives are all national not local. Yes, I have not been attending local rallies because I am conducting my own campaign for Team Unity. And yes, Kalahi is my choice of party-list and not the leftists the mayor supports. It's just a difference of political opinion between us. Nothing personal. I have no quarrel with him," Nograles said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (May 13, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Poll violence claims 4 more lives