GMA gets 3 more allies in Senate

The ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) is virtually assured of a clear majority in the 24-member Senate, with three incumbent senators identified with the opposition having sent signals of crossing to the other side.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, President Arroyo revealed that Senators Ramon Revilla and his son-in-law, Robert Jaworski, have indicated their desire to regain membership in the pro-administration Lakas-NUCD party.

She said Sen. John Osmeña had also sent word that he would support the administration.

The ongoing official tabulation of the senatorial votes being conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which has transformed itself into the National Board of Canvassers, showed the PPC ticket having a foothold on eight of the 13 Senate seats at stake in the May 14 polls.

The coalesced opposition Puwersa ng Masa-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PnM-LDP) has four while one independent candidate, broadcast journalist Noli de Castro was setting the pace in the senatorial derby.

President Arroyo predicted that the final tally would come up with 8-5 for the PPC as indicated by surveys and an exit poll conducted earlier by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Osmeña earlier declared that he was dissociating himself from the opposition and would remain an independent for the rest of his term.

Osmeña said he was never a member of the PnM-LDP, adding he belonged to the Alayon, a local political party in his home province of Cebu.

With this declaration, only four incumbent senators are left with the opposition. They are Blas Ople, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Vicente Sotto III,and Rodolfo Biazon. The opposition, therefore, needs to win at least eight seats at stake in the May 14 elections to regain control of the Senate.

In her press conference televised nationwide, the President admitted she was not gung ho with their campaign slogan of a 13-0 win over the opposition.

"The (pre-election) surveys were always 8-5, the exit polls had 8-5, the Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) counted 8-5. So far, the Comelec counted 8-5," Mrs. Arroyo noted.

She said if the PPC garners eight seats, plus three incumbents, the ruling party will have eleven of the 24-member Senate.

With the entry of Revilla and Jaworski, that gives the administration party a total of 13 senators.

Mrs. Arroyo divulged that she talked with John Osmeña who vowed to support her leadership.

Revilla, Jaworski and Osmeña belonged to former President Joseph Estrada’s Lapian ng Masang Pilipino, but considered themselves independent during the failed impeachment trial held last December and January.

Although she campaign vigorously for the PPC bets, Mrs. Arroyo said they won on their own merits. "I have never claimed to be a magician," she said.

On allegations by her detractors that an 8-5 result would mean a repudiation of her leadership, she said that on the contrary, enjoying the majority was an indication of a popular mandate for her administration.

She also pointed out that the SWS surveys gave her a "decent" public acceptance rating.

"So they were not voting on whether they were Gloria’s candidates or not because my trust rating is quite decent," the President said.

She shrugged off observations that the sure victory of former First Lady Luisa Ejercito in the senatorial race would pose a threat to her administration, or to her re-election bid in 2004.

"I am not even thinking about 2004 at this point. I’m just thinking about doing what is right in governance, because if you start thinking about the next elections, you will not govern," she stressed.