NP camp warns LP not to exploit Edsa I rites for political gain

JUST WHEN NACIONALISTA PARTY (NP) FRONTRUNNERS CALL FOR TRADITIONAL FORM OF CAMPAIGNING, SOME OF THE PARTY’S SENATORIAL CANDIDATES YESTERDAY TOOK AN OFFENSIVE STANCE, TAKING A DIG AT THE LIBERAL PARTY (LP) WHICH IS SAID TO CASH IN ON THE COMING PEOPLE POWER I ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TO FURTHER BOOST ITS EDGE OVER RIVAL PARTIES.
Sen. Loren Legarda, NP’s guest candidate for the vice presidential post, made an appeal during a press conference in Capiz addressed to the LP to elevate the level of political campaign and refrain from mudslinging.
Yet, a number of NP bets fired a mouthful against LP which is said to be planning a series of activities of LP presidential bet, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, the son of the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.
The sone of detained Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, Martin who is representing his father in the party, gave the most scathing statements among them.
“I would like to appeal to the LP to stop exploiting historical events like these to their advantage. I think it is unfair to the country, to the rest of the Filipino people to continue to exploit events like these just to boost their politics,” he said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said Edsa Revolution is not owned by the LP.
NP candidates said the LP, in its supposed plan to capitalize on the coming Edsa anniversary, is desecrating the historical event by using it as a tool for further political purposes.
NP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., his running mate Senator Legarda along with seven of their senatorial bets, boasted of the support received from 13 out of the 17 mayors in Capiz.
But of the said 13 mayors, only Kalibo Mayor Reymar Rebaldo and a councilor have taken their oath as NP members.
“How can Mar say that Capiz is their bailiwick when, in fact, 13 our of 17 mayors are with NP?” Legarda said.
LP presidential bet Senator Aquino flew down south to woo Mindanaoans and to present his agenda in the area plagued by peace and security concerns.
Aquino laid out a four-pronged strategy for Mindanao which includes peace and security, political reform, economic progress and human development.
Aquino, together with running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas visited Esperanza, a town near the municipality of Ampatuan in Maguindanao where 57 journalists and several civilians were massacred last year.
The group also held a students’ forum and multi-sectoral dialog.
The LP delegation paid a courtesy call on Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, cousin of Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife was among the victims in the carnage in Maguindanao.
In Davao, LP proclaimed its Mindanao senatorial candidates, Nereus Acosta, Teofisto Guingona and Yasmin Busran-Lao, a Muslim who has done NGO work in the past 20 years.
Presidential aspirant Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas, meantime, visited Batangas province to attend a conference and woo residents there.
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday welcomed the reported reconciliation of the De Venecia couple — former Speaker Joe and his wife Gina — to President Arroyo whom they have shunned during the height of the NBN-ZTE anomaly issue that involved their son, Joey de Venecia, who is currently running for senator under the opposition banner. Aytch S. de la Cruz and PNA