De Castro-Roco team vs graft?

Supporters of Sen. Noli de Castro said yesterday that a tandem between the former education secretary Raul Roco and the broadcaser-turned-lawmaker would literally wipe out graft and corruption in government and initiate needed economic and political reforms.

De Castro’s supporters led by Francisco Catibayan of the "Kabayan for President Movement" pointed out that the tandem of Roco and De Castro is untainted by any issue of graft.

"They are both very honest. With this team, there will be no tolerance of graft and corruption in government. There will be no plunder of the nation’s wealth," he said.

Catibayan, sporting a pseudonym of Isko Katibayan, emphasized the pair up of Roco and De Castro would also work for a very efficient government.

"Blunders will be avoided. They are both non-traditional politicians. A Roco-Kabayan (De Castro) tandem will listen and implement programs for the marginalized sectors of the society. They will initiate economic and political reforms. Nationalists policies will be prioritized and vested interests will be eradicated," he said.

Catibayan’s group earlier batted for a possible team up with movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. who was proclaimed a faction of the united opposition as their standard-bearer for the May 2004 presidential elections.

Lately, Catibayan spoke out of the possibility of pairing up with Roco to seek the vice presidency. Catibayan, however, said their group still believes De Castro will seek the highest elective position in the land and it will be a matter of time before the senator will make the announcement.

Catibayan claimed Roco’s camp has been wooing De Castro to team up with the former senator as his running mate.