Villar, Pangilinan warned against staying independent

A spokesman for the Grand Coalition warned reelectionists Manuel Villar Jr. and Francis Pangilinan of the possible repercussions of remaining independent in their effort to campaign separately from the opposition ticket.

Grand Coalition spokesman Adel Tamano said the attitude of the two reelectionist senators to distance themselves from the opposition who had adopted them does not fare well with the other candidates.

Tamano claimed there are indications that the two senators are hedging support for other candidates in the opposition.

"The point is, the two are still entertaining some doubts and that they might not bring (support to) all the candidates of the grand opposition... their actions do not seem to reflect that… But if they do and they do not carry our candidates, then individually, the individual members of the opposition, there might be some repercussions," Tamano said.

Tamano said the opposition coalition will still actively campaign for the two and even place their names in their posters and campaign materials but it is expected from them that they will reciprocate the support.

In a bid to thresh out the problem, former senator Ernesto Maceda said he would seek a dialogue with Pangilinan to determine his real stand on the opposition’s move to include him in the slate.

For his part, Villar accommodated the Grand Coalition when they campaigned at his bailiwick in Las Piñas.

Villar and his wife Rep. Cynthia Villar hosted a lunch for the senatorial candidates at a restaurant located inside Star Mall, the family-owned business establishment where some 500 supporters showed up to express support for the opposition bets.

While he welcomed the opposition endorsement, Pangilinan said he would rather become an independent candidate.

"Any candidate will welcome endorsements and support from various groups and organizations. While I thank them for considering me as part of their slate, I do hope however that UNO (United Opposition) understands that I wish to keep my independent stance as I campaign for reelection," he said.

Apparently, some quarters with the opposition also raised eyebrows when Pangilinan was seen endorsing his colleagues at the Wednesday Club, reelectionist Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto of the administration’s Team Unity.

On the other hand, Tamano counterattacked by accusing the administration of including a suspected gambling lord in their senatorial ticket.

Tamano defended the inclusion of cashiered Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV in the opposition slate by accusing the administration has more to answer in including Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

"Just because we have Trillanes in the lineup doesn’t mean that all candidates are likewise rebels or destabilizers," Tamano said.

"For example, in the team GMA, let’s talk about Chavit Singson, a lot of people say that there is a strong evidence that he is a jueteng lord, so just because he is in the lineup means all members of Team GMA are jueteng lords or support illegal activities like jueteng... That’s unfair to all their members," he said.

Singson is the government’s primary witness in the plunder charges against former President Joseph Estrada whose plunder case is awaiting resolution at the Sandiganbayan.

Administration senatorial bets Arroyo and Prospero Pichay had pointed out the inclusion of Trillanes in the Grand Coalition senatorial slate indicate the opposition is supporting destabilization efforts against the government.

Trillanes is currently under detention facing charges of rebellion and coup d’etat for leading the failed Oakwood mutiny in 2003.

Arroyo said the opposition was supporting destabilization efforts or extrajudicial means to remove President Arroyo by making Trillanes as a "poster boy" of the opposition.

"Instead of us rejecting him (Trillanes) and calling him a rebel and destabilizer, we should embrace him now and say that you are doing the right thing and show the people who support him that you have a renewed faith in the constitutional process," Tamano said.

Tamano defended Trillanes, his former classmate at the University of the Philippines, describing the Navy officer as a "fair" and "decent" guy.