Joker warns GMA could lose Senate

Sen. Joker Arroyo warned President Arroyo yesterday that she could lose the Senate to the opposition unless she helps her lagging senatorial candidates to win on May 10.

Arroyo, who is not related to the President but who is largely supportive of her, said while Mrs. Arroyo has slowly overtook her closest rival, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., her senatorial ticket is being thrashed by the opposition.

"President Arroyo’s breakthrough in her re-election bid reminds us of the fabled story of the turtle and the hare. From the starting point of the election campaign, the polls indicated that GMA had 26 percent of the votes as against 36 percent of Fernando Poe Jr. GMA now stands at 34 percent against Mr. Poe’s 31 percent. Slowly but steadily, she overtook him, the momentum is on her side, he faces now an uphill fight," he said.

Unfortunately, the reverse happened to her senatorial candidates, he said.

Senator Arroyo recalled that at the start of the campaign, the administration ticket was expected to win at least nine Senate seats, with three going to the opposition.

"Along the way, it slid down to 8-4, then to 7-5, and now to an even 6-6. In the heart of the presidential contest, the senatorial candidates who campaigned separately from the President were overlooked and financially starved. In other words, the President went up but her senatorial slate went down," he said.

At least one candidate running with Mrs. Arroyo, re-electionist Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, has complained publicly about being neglected by the campaign staff of the administration coalition.

As of now, seven incumbent pro-administration senators and five opposition senators will continue to sit in the incoming 13th Congress.

Arroyo said an even 6-6 result on May 10 will mean a 13-11 "razor-thin ratio, a dreadful setup not unlike the present 12th Congress where the majority can be held hostage by the minority."

"Every time the Senate convenes, the members look around to size up the numbers whether a reorganization can prosper," he said.

"Worst, if the results would be 7-5 in favor of the opposition, then the Senate would be deadlocked 12-12, an intolerable disastrous situation which would ultimately damage the Senate and the nation," he said.

Arroyo, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, added that the opposition could even take control of the Senate unless the sagging senatorial campaign of the administration coalition is propped up.

"With some attention and help extended to those in the 9-14 range, this can be achieved in the homestretch. This is indispensable to the success of GMA’s second term," he stressed.