‘Pampanga to support Team PNoy ticket’

MANILA, Philippines - Pampanga, home province of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will support the administration Team PNoy ticket, Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada said yesterday.

The lawmaker refuted claims of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) that Arroyo’s provincemates would reject Team PNoy senatorial candidates because of President Aquino’s “Arroyo bashing.”

UNA’s senatorial candidates were in the province Wednesday for a campaign sortie.

“Pampanga is Aquino country. In 2010, the province voted for then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III and his running mate Mar Roxas in a manner so emphatic, so dominating,” Tañada said.

Tañada said the claim that Pampanga would go for UNA “is a myth the opposition is trying to spread just to get the votes of the Pampangueños.”

He said even former President Estrada cannot sway Pampanga to the side of the opposition.

The ruling Liberal Party is fielding former priest Ed Panlilio against incumbent governor Lilia Pineda, a long-time Arroyo ally.