Category: Election 2007

Malacañang must be sensing that the candidacy of Sonny Trillanes is taking off, despite his absence in the campaign trail and lack of resources. Now, they want him isolated from his campaign leaders and supporters:

Genuine Opposition (GO) spokesman Adel Tamano yesterday criticized government and the military for imposing more restrictions on detained Magdalo core leader Antonio Trillanes IV.

“We’re concerned na naghihigpit sila. Why? Because he’s a GO candidate and is doing good in surveys?” he said in a media briefing at the GO headquarters in Mandaluyong city. “He’s not even physically out there campaigning.”

Here’s the report of Gerard Anthony M. Naval for Malaya:

A staunch ally of deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s has agreed to run as the vice mayor of Senator Alfredo Lim in the latter’s bid to regain his old post as Manila chief executive.

Lito Banayo, who previously served as Estrada’s presidential political adviser, confirmed the report, saying his decision to run has the blessing of his former boss.

“I think it’s high time for me to directly serve the constituents of Manila because I have been living in the city since I was six years old,” Banayo said, calling himself a “genuine Batang Maynila.”

But he added that he is still waiting for the official announcement of his candidacy by Estrada and the Genuine Opposition (GO), where he is also serving as a political strategist.

While the GO has the people’s support it would do well for them to do something about their organization.

What happened in Iloilo, where the rally was cancelled, shows a major problem in their organization. It would do well for them to take note of this comments by Gabriel Claudio, Malacañang’s political operator.

Click here.

The replacement of Reli German as Team GMA campaign manager by Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone indicates that despite their glitzy, expensive campaign, the public is not taking to Gloria Arroyo’s candidates. Pichay is pouring lots and lots of money on political advertisements. Chavit Singson brings along sexy , scantilly-clad girls in his campaign. But apparently the public are not easily fooled. This shows in the opposition-commissioned survey by Pulse Asia of voting sentiments in Manila as of second week of February 2007.

This is in the column of Lito Banayo in Malaya:

A privately commissioned survey was done by Pulse Asia in the City of Manila. The actual field research was done February 10 to 12, with face-to-face interviews of 600 respondents divided proportionately among the city’s six congressional districts.

Continue readingOpposition Manila

And he says it is not electioneering which he forbids all soldiers to do. Victor Reyes’ report in Malaya.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermo-genes Esperon Jr. yesterday said he hopes retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, scourge of communists and alleged mastermind of a rash of extra-judicial killings, will win if and when he runs for congressman of Misamis Oriental.

“That is a matter of personal choice and an exercise of an individual freedom that is accorded to all Filipinos. So, if he wants to enter (politics), I will wish him luck and I hope that he will succeed in what he is doing,” said Esperon. He quickly clarified, however, that he was not speaking for the AFP.

Abs-cbn’s report of GO proclamation rally:

The proclamation rally of the Genuine Opposition at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila Saturday was dominated by anti-Arroyo speeches from its senatorial candidates as they brought back issues that have rocked President Arroyo’s six-year administration.

In its almost three-hour proclamation rally, the opposition candidates slammed President Arroyo for her policies such as the calibrated preemptive response, Proclamation 1017 and the Malacañang-backed Charter change.

They also assailed the President for alleged corruption such as the fertilizer scam, the reported electoral fraud that marred the 2004 presidential elections and the high incidence of extrajudicial killings in the country.

There’s a famous political quote, “Can you defend it in Plaza Miranda?”

The Genuine Opposition is taking up that challenge as they will hold their proclamation at Plaza Miranda tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan continues to act high and mighty. He issued a press statement that he will not be attending the Go proclamation rally.