Palace makes out to staunch Erap ally

President Arroyo extended yesterday a hand of reconciliation to Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, one of the staunchest supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"I would like to greet Maguindanao congressman Digs Dilangalen," she said during the 107th Nueva Ecija Day at the provincial capitol in Palayan City.

"Although he is from the opposition, I hope he is one member of the opposition who is for democracy and is not ... involved with destabilization."

Dilangalen, a member of Estrada’s political party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), is a critic of Mrs. Arroyo.

After an overnight stop in Pampanga, Mrs. Arroyo flew to Nueva Ecija to take part in ceremonies commemorating "Unang Sigaw," an event in 1898 when Filipino revolutionaries declared the war of independence against Spain.

Accompanied by some Cabinet secretaries, Mrs. Arroyo welcomed the expression of support from local officials led by Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson and 29 municipal mayors.

"We have only one republic," she said.

"Even if we have so many political parties, we only have one republic. The threat is not politics but threats to our republic.

"So we should be united for the peace and progress of our country. It’s our aim to strengthen our republic. It’s our goal to ensure progress for our country. It’s our goal that our people are happy and free."

Speaking in Filipino interspersed with English, Mrs. Arroyo said her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal and Joson’s deceased father both belonged to the opposition when they ran for president and governor.

"So since 1959, many political roads have crossed but Tommy (Joson) and I were together up to now," she said.

"Today, because it’s not yet elections, we must think about unity and progress."

Mrs. Arroyo said Joson has been at the forefront of the war against poverty and terrorism in Nueva Ecija, especially the threats from the New People’s Army (NPA)."

"Gov. Tommy Joson has done a lot against the NPAs," she said.

"Tommy is even in the hit list of the NPA because he staunchly fights those against our Republic. We really need to work together.

"During these times, Nueva Ecija remains important in defending the Republic, led by our barangay tanods, who just graduated today from their seminar to help keep security watch of our barangays."

Barangay tanods must report armed men in their communities to the authorities so they could be arrested, Mrs. Arroyo added. –Marichu Villanueva