Opposition suspends GO sorties

The Genuine Opposition (GO) is suspending its campaign sorties for two weeks ostensibly to consolidate its resources and energy before a renewed push for dominance in the May elections.

Sources said it was incoming campaign manager Sen. Sergio Osmeña III who suggested allowing a period of assessment and consolidation for GO senatorial candidates.

GO candidates have been leading in recent surveys on the senatorial race.

On April 3, Holy Tuesday, the GO candidates will gather for a recollection during which they are expected to reflect on their own spiritual growth. The gathering will also be a team-building activity of sorts, where each candidate will size up his or her chances in the coming elections, according to outgoing campaign manager JV Ejercito.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, GO candidate, canceled his sorties in Bataan and Zambales over the weekend apparently in compliance with the new directive. GO also canceled last week its scheduled sorties in Nueva Ecija, with candidates opting to proceed with their individual campaign schedules.

In a forum last Friday, Ejercito said the opposition is gearing for a "GO blitz" style of campaigning.

"It is designed to improve the ratings of our candidates who are at a striking distance in the survey ratings," Ejercito said.

Ejercito said the coalition hopes to bring its candidates closer to the people through Talakayang Bayan unlike the administration candidates’ tack of communing with the public in "controlled environments."

Ejercito stressed again that the coming elections were not a proxy fight between President Arroyo and her predecessor Joseph Estrada.

"The fact that I sacrificed my senatorial bid already proves that this is not a proxy fight," Ejercito said.

Last week, GO candidates former senators John Henry Osmeña and Nikki Coseteng, and Sonia Roco talked favorably of an Estrada endorsement.

Osmeña said he always informed the people during his sorties of the former president’s support for GO stressing that "a good number of voters in this country still support him."

He added that had the impeachment trial been brought to conclusion, he would have voted for the acquittal of Estrada. "I am not in the least shy saying that I consider him a friend and a leader."

For her part, Roco cited President Estrada’s "sacrifice" when he asked his son, JV Ejercito, to abandon his senatorial plans and let her run instead.

"His support for us shows that we cannot be bribed, that we stand by our beliefs, that we are the guardian of this nation," Coseteng said.

"This (GO) is a ticket that would stand for justice and truth," she added.