Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said it would be better if the camps of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. and independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson unite and come up with a common candidate.
"What President Arroyo has said (is) it might be better if they (Poe and Lacson) unite so that this would be a one-on-one race," Bunye said.
Bunye said a unification would provide the voters a clearer idea of the platform of the administration as against that of the opposition.
He said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to show the public the weakness of the opposition’s platform — or the absence of it — and present her campaign on "a high plane and civilized manner."
"She would also be able to show her clear and specific programs compared with those of the opposition, which are very general, motherhood statements and without clear goals," Bunye said.
Malacañang came out with the statement after Poe announced Saturday the scheduled "make-or-break" unification talks with Lacson today.
Poe said there should be only one candidate running for the opposition to face Mrs. Arroyo.
Both Poe and Lacson have indicated that neither of them will give way even as they agreed on the common goal to unite the opposition.
On the eve of the unification talks, lawmakers belonging to the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) expressed their confidence that Mrs. Arroyo will still emerge the winner in the May elections.
Davao Oriental Rep. Mayo Almario, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Isidoro Real and Bulacan Rep. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said any effort to unite the opposition only indicates that her rivals acknowledge the strength of Mrs. Arroyo in the May elections.
Almario said the administration coalition is well prepared for the outcome of the last-ditch attempt of the opposition to unite.
"Our forces are undaunted by any outcome of their unity talks. We have remained focused on our goal to ensure the resounding victory of the President," Almario said.
Real added no amount of political realignments of the opposition three weeks before the elections would affect the chances of Mrs. Arroyo getting a six-year term.
Real said Mrs. Arroyo is the most prepared of all candidates given her strong qualifications, track record and clear platform. — With Jose Rodel Clapano