Tamano: Villar can take Erap's place

CEBU, Philippines - United Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano believes that Senator Manuel Villar is the best candidate for president for the opposition should former president Joseph Estrada decides to forego his plan for the presidency.

Tamano, who was in Cebu yesterday, said Villar will be the best replacement to unite the opposition in next year’s polls. He said it is important for the opposition to remain united because of next year’s election.

Tamano believes Villar is not guilty of the charges lodged against him by fellow opposition senators Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal.

“I am so dismayed that the opposition senators are fighting each other. They are wasting so much time and money by back fighting and arguing. I suppose the Filipino people voted for them as they are expected to make good laws,” Tamano said.

Estrada earlier said he is already 90 percent decided to run for president next year if only to unite the opposition.

Tamano, the president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, also revealed his plan to run for the Senate but said he is against poll automation because there is no assurance that it can stop cheating.

He said Malacañang spending P11 billion for poll automation, which could have been spent for school buildings, books and implementation of health programs.

“There has to be an election. Our country needs new leaders,” Tamano said.

Tamano’s father, Mamintal Tamano, was Senator twice from 1969 to 1972 and from 1987 to 1992.

Meanwhile, Tamano said the Association of Local Colleges and University has passed a resolution supporting the controversial Mandaue City College headed by Dr. Paulus Cañete. Tamano, also the president of ALCU, said the association is supporting the college, considering that the school has been affiliated with the association since 2005.

“We know that there is an on-going political problem surrounding this matter but we don’t care about that. We just hope that politics will not intervene with the academe,” Tamano said.

To date, Mandaue City has two Mandaue City College(s). One is headed by Cañete located in barangay Jagobiao and the other one is headed by Dr. Susana Cabahug at the City Sports Complex.

MCC was put up during the administration of former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano with an aim to provide quality and cheap education to poor but deserving students in the city through the ladderized curriculum.

After Ouano’s term ended, however, Mayor Jonas Cortes created the new MCC after Cañete refused to vacate his post.

A legal dispute then erupted between Cañete and the new administration which, until now, remains to be resolved. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)