Palace: Opposition politicking too early

Malacañang officials lashed out yesterday at the political opposition for indulging in partisan politics with the next elections still more than a year away.

In separate interviews, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Jose Ma. "Joey" Rufino said it is unceasing politics that prevents the country from attaining economic progress.

"Let’s hope these political positionings won’t distract our nation from the more urgent task of pushing the economy forward and making sure that services are delivered to the people," Tiglao said.

He castigated the opposition for doing nothing but criticize the administration, forgetting that they also have an obligation to the citizenry.

Rufino, who is also executive director of the administration Lakas-NUCD party, said the Arroyo administration remained focused on creating jobs.

Tiglao and Rufino were reacting to a statement by deposed President Joseph Estrada who said his Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and other opposition parties have already consolidated their forces in preparation for the May 2004 national elections.

Estrada said his overwhelming victory in the 1998 presidential election would be duplicated by either movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. or opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Tiglao said President Arroyo remained unfazed by the opposition’s maneuverings and black propaganda, as she kept focus on pushing the national economy forward.

Tiglao claimed that Mrs. Arroyo’s reformist style of governance has proved to be effective despite the accusations raised by the opposition against her leadership.

"Though a lot of people are concerned about the elections, we think they are getting tired of politics," Tiglao added. "They will make their decision in 2004 but for them, the most urgent thing in their mind is how to make a living, and this administration is intent on giving them the right services."

Rufino said Mrs. Arroyo would still be the administration party’s standard-bearer in the coming polls.

He also said the Lakas-NUCD has been proven to be a formidable party even though it was relegated to the sideline during the short-lived Estrada regime, but was able to consolidate its forces immediately during the failed impeachment trial of Estrada.

On the other hand, he accused opposition politicians of being too preoccupied with how to regain power.

"Let us just see each other in 2004. We have no problem with them wanting to win in 2004. Some of them may have legitimate ambitions, but they are not helping the people at all," Rufino stressed.

"They have been making all these accusations against the (Arroyo) government, where is the accuser now? He is no longer in the country and in handcuffs, too," he added, referring to Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez who was extradited to the United States last Thursday.

Lakas leaders in both the Senate and the House of Representatives also assailed the opposition for engaging in too much politics in anticipation of the 2004 elections, in effect setting aside the country’s more pressing problems.

Sen. Robert Barbers, Lakas vice president for Mindanao; Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, head of the governor’s league and Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano, a senior Lakas leader, said their party was on the right track in putting preparations for the next elections at the back burner in favor of more effective governance.

In a statement, Barbers called on the national leadership to focus first on solving the country’s problems, adding that Lakas was willing to extend a hand of reconciliation in the spirit of national unity for concerted efforts toward economic progress.

"The administration party has rightly prioritized the effort of giving a better life to all Filipinos. Politics is among the least of its concerns. We urge the PMP to help, if only for the sake of our people, because they are already fed up with too much politics," Barbers stressed.

He chided Estrada for openly talking to journalists about his plans for 2004, saying the next elections are still one year and a half away.

He said spending resources and attention on politics would be divisive and draw away attention from more important matters.

Barbers also called on the Estrada camp to respect the moratorium on politics and work instead with the Arroyo administration by providing constructive suggestions pertaining legislative and political matters.

"We should put politics in the back burner and focus our time and energy on problems like putting an end to the insurgency and improving peace and order, and raising employment and the incomes of our people, especially (those) in the regions. Our people deserve more constructive action from their political parties. Jockeying for political position is the last thing they need at this time," Barbers said.

For his part, University of the Philippines chaplain Fr. Robert Reyes also berated Estrada for jumping the gun on the 2004 elections by announcing the PMP lineup to be led by either Poe or Lacson.

Reyes said it was yet too early for the detained former president to be discussing politics, particularly now that he is in the thick of trial for a number of corruption cases before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

While he acknowledged the strong showing of Poe and Lacson in the surveys, Reyes called on the people not to forget their experience with Estrada who allegedly drove the country to its present state of "economic precariousness and fractious politics."

"The populist choice is the reason we are where we are right now. The people should learn from their mistake and be more careful. They should go beyond popularity and the endorsement of a former strong man, and choose leaders who will have ability and their welfare at heart," Reyes said in a statement.

He said personally, he has problems with both Poe and Lacson.

"FPJ and Erap are one and the same person. At this point, let us move forward and let Erap be a thing of the past," the priest said.

On Lacson, he said he was "very worried" about the senator’s alleged involvement in narco-politics and kidnapping.

"At this point, we cannot afford a leader with a dark past," Reyes added.