Text threats force GO to cancel grand rally in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY — The Genuine Opposition (GO)’s grand proclamation rally in Iloilo City on Tuesday night was canceled after Gov. Niel Tupas informed them of threats to the security of candidates.

San Juan Mayor "JV" Ejercito, GO campaign manager, said he will not risk the lives of six of the candidates, who came here all the way from Metro Manila.

He referred queries on the alleged threats to the Tupas camp.

Ejercito brushed aside the statement of opposition candidate Rep. Rolex Suplico that GO’s first major provincial rally was canceled because of lack of attendance.

"If the provincial government cited security as reason, I don’t have to question that," he said.

"Whatever it is, let us let the provincial government address it. It (has) been born out of trauma due to the Jan. 17 experience," referring to the raid on the provincial capitol to unseat the governor.

Legarda was also dismayed but she proceeded with her own schedule, meeting up with other GO candidates – Rep. Noynoy Aquino, former senator Nikki Coseteng and Mrs. Sonia Roco – in another sortie at the Capiz State University in Roxas City.

"We just have to follow (what the GO executive committee says)," she said.

In Metro Manila, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Liberal Party president, said he was merely informed about the cancellation and left the decision to the person in-charge of security.

"We campaigned yesterday in Iloilo," he said. "I was with the GO slate. In the evening when I was in the hotel, waiting for the rally, they told me that they had received reports, which concern the security of our candidates. I had no personal knowledge of this."

Drilon said it could have been a very emotional rally as the provincial capitol was the site of the attack on democracy last Jan. 17.

"Therefore, I deferred to the judgment of those in-charge of security," he said.

"Other than that, I have no personal knowledge. I left early this morning to come to this forum. They made a decision on the basis of the better part of discretion not to proceed and take this report seriously."

Mayor Boboy Tupas, the governor’s son, who is former senator Loren Legarda’s campaign manager in the province, told reporters they received warnings via text message that the rally would be sabotaged.

Mayor Tupas did not say how credible the text messages were.

However, Western Visayas police director Wilfredo Dulay said his office had not received an assessment of a security threat in the area. "There are no security threats," he said. "We have not received any reports either so there seems no reason for the cancellation."

Ejercito brushed aside the statements of opposition Rep. Rolex Suplico over the cancellation of the opposition’s first major provincial proclamation rally here last Wednesday.

GO candidates Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Roco and Coseteng said the Human Security Act of 2007 might be used by the administration in the "pattern of harassing" members of the political opposition.

All six GO candidates – Legarda, Pimentel, John Osmeña, Aquino, Roco and Coseteng – were already geared to go to the rally when Governor Tupas informed them that the rally had to be canceled because of security threats.

Except for Legarda, the GO candidates went to the Bombo Radyo station where they spent around an hour announcing on air their platforms of government before heading back to the Sarabia Manor, where they were staying.

The team was scheduled to campaign in Roxas City and Kalibo yesterday before returning to Metro Manila, while Legarda will stay a day more to go around Antique.

Early this week, Tupas vowed to give the GO candidates a 12-0 victory in the May elections by getting a majority of the one million votes of the province.

The rally was initially set at 6 p.m. but was moved anew to 7 p.m.

The stage and speakers were set up near the provincial capitol but it seemed deserted, except for some organizers and their assistants, when reporters went there.

Upon their arrival here at around 10 a.m. Wednesday, the GO candidates conducted a press conference, where most bets recalled what they described as an attempt to trample on democracy following the attack at the Iloilo provincial capitol and the failed attempt to unseat Governor Tupas.

Drilon welcomed the GO party yesterday to his home province.

"If you want democracy to survive, vote straight for GO!" he said.

Drilon reminded the people of the Senate’s role in protecting democracy which was restored in 1986 following a People Power revolution triggered by the killing of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., a member of the Liberal Party.

"We fought all the issuances of the President," he said. "The Senate was in the forefront in fighting these issuances through Senate hearings and the Supreme Court."

Drilon also urged his provincemates to support Aquino’s candidacy. – Christina Mendez