For Ping, it’s Pidal, not ‘Pidol’

MASINLOC, Zambales — Opposition presidential hopeful Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he is "more concerned about Pidal than Pidol."

"I have no comment on the Pidol issue," he told journalists here, referring to the controversy created by the rumored departure of popular actor Dolphy, a campaigner of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr., from the ABS-CBN television network. Dolphy is sometimes called "Pidol" by his show biz friends.

"Ang concern namin si Jose Pidal (Our concern is Jose Pidal)," Lacson said.

In August and September last year, in a three-part exposé‚ Lacson had accused First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of hiding about P260 million in supposedly illegal funds by using the false name Jose Pidal in secret bank accounts.

Arroyo has denied the accusation.

Perhaps due to the Pidal controversy and surveys showing that many people believe the real Jose Pidal is the First Gentleman and not his brother Ignacio or Iggy as the latter claims, President Arroyo has rarely been seen in public with her husband since the election campaign period started last Feb. 10.

Lacson admitted that his Pidal exposé has been serving him well in the campaign, as people in the provinces have responded favorably to his use of Jose Pidal as a symbol of graft and corruption in government.

He said that his first order of business, once elected as president, is to cut by half the pork barrel of lawmakers, citing the pork barrel as a major source of graft.

"In the first 100 days of my administration, there will be an assault of government. We will weed out the scalawags from the bureaucracy," Lacson said.

Lacson urged businessmen during last Monday’s presidentiables’ forum in Makati City to take an intolerant attitude toward the next president’s involvement in graft, whether real or perceived.

He also asked them to make sure that their P100 million seed fund for poverty alleviation will be managed by the private sector.

"Be intolerant of graft and corruption, and of other abuses by the leader and by other government officials. Yes, I will continue to use Pidal in my campaign. It’s the people who bring out the issue. They are the ones urging me to jail and remove Pidal. We are using Pidal as a symbol of corruption not only during this administration," he said.

Lacson said that the government should stop the twin evils of crime and corruption so that it can attract investments and generate jobs.

Lacson also said he expects the group of Valenzuela City Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo l to formally join his camp this week.

"The group of Magi is definitely a big and quality addition to our group," he said.

A former member of the ruling Lakas party, Gunigundo has defected to the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino faction led by Sen. Edgardo Angara, the LDP president who is supporting Poe’s presidential bid.

Now he wants to join the other LDP faction led by Lacson, his lone senatorial candidate, House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla, and Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino, the LDP secretary-general, because Angara and Poe are supporting his opponent, House colleague Sherwin Gatchalian.

Gunigundo and Gatchalian are eyeing the mayoral seat in their city.

Lacson conceded that Gunigundo’s defection to his camp would be a "big psychological boost to us."

"But we are also looking at the quality of those who want to join us, and Magi and his group pass our standard," he said.

The opposition senator and former Philippine National Police chief refused to answer questions that could again spark a word war with rival Poe.

"Ceasefire pa rin ako. Mabuti nang ganyan. Ibang isyu na lang (It’s better this way. Let us discuss other issues)," he said.

He added that there is still no contact between him and Poe.

Lacson noted that local leaders in various provinces do not believe that Mrs. Arroyo is leading in surveys or even a close second to Poe.

"President Arroyo is trying to project the fight is between her and FPJ. This is not so. In many provinces they really hate her, the situation they are in right now, under her administration," he said.

Lacson said that reports reaching his camp indicated that Mrs. Arroyo’s handlers are trying to project her as a winner, "so that when they cheat, the result will be believable." — With Jose Rodel Clapano