Monday, February 26, 2007 Team Unity woos Pangasinenses
LINGAYEN -- The administration Team Unity held their proclamation rally here on Saturday.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some of the administration senatorial candidates stopped over in Rosales and had lunch at the Binmaley town presidencia before they motored to nearby Lingayen for the proclamation rally at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gym, which began at 2 p.m.
After the rally, Arroyo and the senatoriables proceeded to Binalonan town, hometown of the President's mother, and graced the town fiesta.
Early in the morning, Arroyo visited the Our Lady of Rosales Grotto in Rosales, Pangasinan. Some reporters from Manila covering the senatorial campaign trail allegedly walked out when members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) prevented them from entering the grotto compound.
Since Arroyo started visiting the Rosales grotto, journalists are usually not allowed inside the compound "because it is a personal and solemn time for the President."
At 1:20 p.m. Saturday, four convoy vehicles of senatorial candidate Prospero Pichay collided with each other along McArthur Highway in Barangay Biec, Binmaley.
Police said a Toyota Revo bearing license plate ZGM-493 driven by Freddie Enano was hit from behind by a Pajero (XPU-410) driven by Alfredo Sarimo. The two other vehicles involved in the incident (both trailing at the back) were a Ford Expedition (XSL-585) driven by Antonie Lozano and a Mitsubishi pick-up (CMS-500) driven by Jovito Lozano.
The accident caused traffic jam delaying some Pangasinense delegations from Central and Eastern Pangasinan who were on their way to attend the rally.
Binmaley Mayor Sammy Rosario hosted lunch for President Arroyo and the senatoriables.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan officials came in full force to the rally site.
Those who attended the event were Biskeg na Pangasinan president and Undersecretary for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr., Governor Victor Agbayani, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, Representative Amado Espino Jr., Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castañeda and other mayors. Congressional aspirants Rachel Arenas and Gallant Soriano were also there.
Among the candidates, Cesar Montano received the hottest reception from Pangasinenses while there was not much reaction to Sultan Kiram. (LCMY/Sunnex)
