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Sunday, March 21, 2004
GMA frequent visits to Pangasinan chided
By Melandrew Velasco
“Kahit ilang beses bumalik sa Pangasinan si Presidente Arroyo, the Pangasinenses will still vote for FPJ.”
This was stressed by Kabaleyan Nen Palaris chairman Adonis Samson as he noted that President Arroyo’s frequent visits to the province, her seventh in one month, only reflects her desperation in winning the hearts and minds of her so-called provincemates.
Both Poe and Arroyo are tracing their roots to this vote rich province as Fernando Poe Sr, the father of the Philippine movie king was born in San Carlos City while the President’s mother, Dr. Evangeline Macaraeg, was a native of Binalonan.
The President’s seventh visit to Pangasinan has reportedly surpassed her previous presidential visits to the province in three years.
Among the areas visited by Arroyo last Thursday include former Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) stricken town Alcala, San Carlos City, which is an FPJ bailiwick and Alaminos City.
“The presidential race in Pangasinan is still 70-30 in favor of FPJ and we expect this to further increase to 80-20 despite different attempt of the incumbent to get the support of the local leaders by distributing campaign funds,” Samson said.
Meanwhile, Koalisyon ng Nagkaisang Pilipino gubernatorial bet Marieta-Primicias Goco said that not even the efforts of President Arroyo in giving financial support to local executives in the province of Pangasinan would sway the votes intended for opposition standard-bearer and leading presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr.
“During the campaign sorties, local officials from the mayors are allegedly being given money ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 while barangay officials from barangay captains are being given P5,000 to P10,000 just to ensure their support for the incumbent,” Goco noted.
Aside from these, Goco said President Arroyo also distributes education grants, Philhealth ID’s and other benefits to Pangasinenses in trying to court them and get their support.
She expressed confidence that the KNP-Pangasinan and the KNP gubernatorial candidate will be able to deliver one million solid votes for FPJ out of the province’s 1.5 million voters.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos got more than 600,000 votes in 1992 presidential elections while House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. got more than 700,000 votes in 1998 presidential elections.
(March 21, 2004 issue)
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