Grand Coalition: It’s not just about ousting GMA

The opposition team, now known as the Grand Coalition, assured the people yesterday that its candidates are not out solely to topple President Arroyo but also to seek good governance and reforms.

Lawyer Adel Tamano, spokesman for the Grand Coalition, denied the claims of pro-administration and re-electionist Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto that the opposition’s sole aim was to impeach Mrs. Arroyo and set the stage for the political comeback of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Tamano said the platform of the opposition promotes accountability and transparency, respect for the rule of law and participation in good governance.

"We want to be very clear, that we are working on the platform of good governance and high ideals," Tamano said.

Arroyo and Recto said in a joint statement that they had joined the administration because the opposition had nothing good to offer. They also criticized the opposition for spearheading the impeachment of Mrs. Arroyo, which is within the Constitution, while at the same time supporting military adventurism.

"This (Arroyo and Recto statement) is actually part of a diversionary tactic just the same in their political dynasties campaign, that this is an ‘impeachment only’ issue. This is so untrue. They hide the obvious fact that the grand coalition is much (more) winnable than the GMA ticket," said Tamano, a professor at the Far Eastern University law school and son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano.

Tamano said the opposition is campaigning for reforms in education, government and the military.

He said the decision of Senators Arroyo and Recto to join Team Unity of the administration is a political blunder.

"The two senators are heading for the losing party because it is the banner year for the opposition," he added.

Arroyo and Recto have pointed out that the President did not try to dissuade them when they fought hand in hand with other members of the Senate including Senator President Manuel Villar and Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan against Arroyo’s "unpopular" declarations.

"The opposition want to impeach the President. That is their constitutional prerogative. But one has yet to hear the opposition denounce attempts by military adventurers to topple the government and set up another one outside the Constitution. They have steadfastly refused to recognize the constitutional succession of the vice-president," Arroyo and Recto said in the statement.

Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco warned that the so-called Grand Coalition is actually a grand conspiracy of the opposition to propagate the political clout of Estrada and topple the administration.

"The truth hurts. The people should not be misled," said Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs.

The remaining candidates for senator including Villar and opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed yesterday their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 14 elections.

Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party who opted to run as an independent, is a guest candidate of the united opposition.

"I am a guest candidate of the opposition and I am an independent, Officially I am running as a candidate of the Nacionalista Party. I am grateful that I was made a guest candidate of the opposition," Villar said.

Villar said the virtual breakup of the Senate Wednesday Group comprising himself, Pangilinan, Recto and Arroyo, will not affect their friendship.

Pangilinan also filed his COC at the Comelec. Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party (LP), will run as an independent and an adopted candidate of the opposition.

Pangilinan was accompanied by his wife popular actress Sharon Cuneta, Senators Franklin Drilon, Manuel Roxas II, Rodolfo Biazon and other LP leaders.

Another opposition senatorial bet Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano who also filed this COC.

Meanwhile, military officials warned soldiers that they will be punished if they openly campaign for candidates including Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, who is currently detained for leading the mutiny of rebel troops that occupied the Oakwood building in Makati City on July 27, 2003.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Armed Forces information office chief, said soldiers found guilty of campaigning for Trillanes or any candidate would face charges for violating military rules and regulations.

Trillanes is detained at the Marines stockade at Fort Bonifacio in Makati and facing coup d’etat charges at the Makati Regional Trial Court.

The rebel officer had asked the Makati court to allow him to have access to the media during the campaign. Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles told the court that it is his client’s constitutional right to be allowed to issue statements for his campaign.

The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAA) will have Senate President Manuel Villar as guest of honor at the homecoming celebration of the PMA at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City this week.

Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, PMAAA president and a member of the PMA class 1977, which has adopted Villar as honorary member, said the board has arrived at a decision to retain the Senate president as guest for this year’s annual celebration.

Villar’s party had confirmed attendance in the activity after they received an official invitation from the PMAAA dated Dec. 5 and signed by chairman retired Brig. Gen. Roland Patuggalan. - Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy