Issue these days is GMA, not Marcos - Noynoy

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  – Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said the issue these days is President Arroyo and not the Marcoses.

“I’m more focused on GMA rather than the Marcoses,” Aquino told reporters yesterday during his visit to Tacloban City, the turf of former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.

The focus nowadays has been transferred from the Marcoses to Mrs. Arroyo, particularly her abuses in government and the massive corruption of her administration, according to Aquino and his running mate, Manuel Roxas II.

Aquino said he had a “good showing” in Leyte in the May 2007 elections when he ran for senator.

“I think it will even be better (in the May polls),” he said.

“I expect the same or even more (this May elections), thanks to our vice governor.”

Vice Gov. Mimieta Bagulaya said Tacloban City might turn LP, especially since Gov. Carlo Jericho Petilla and his family have thrown their support behind the Aquino-Roxas tandem.

“This is no longer Marcos country,” she said.

Bagulaya, LP provincial chairman, said former governor Remedios Petilla, mother of the present governor, was a colleague of Aquino in the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, in Dumaguete City, former ambassador Ernesto Maceda accused yesterday Mrs. Arroyo, her son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, and her brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Iggy Arroyo of enriching themselves in power.

Speaking to more than 2,000 residents during a rally of former President Joseph Estrada, Maceda said that Mikey did not own a car and a house before he became a member of the House of Representatives.

“Now, what are the total assets of Mikey based on his Statements of Assets and Liabilities (SAL) and Net worth? P90 million,” he said.

“The total assets now of President Arroyo are P334 million based on her latest SAL. They did not earn it from their salaries.

“It is evidence that they enriched themselves using their powers.”

Mrs. Arroyo’s assets when she was a senator were P10 million, he added.

Maceda said Iggy was only renting an apartment in Bacolod before he was elected to Congress.

“Now, his total assets are P150 million,” he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano