GMA: No politicking in provincial sorties

CAMP MELCHOR DE LA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela — President Arroyo advised her critics earlier this week to refrain from branding her provincial sorties as mere politicking, saying the sorties are part of her obligation as the country’s Chief Executive.

"It is my duty as President to visit the people in the countryside," Mrs. Arroyo, who stayed overnight here Monday on the first day of her two-day sortie to Kalinga, Ifugao and Isabela, said during a press conference here.

The President admitted, however, that she was being put in a situation where everything she does is given political color.

"If I stay at Malacañang, they criticize me. If I go out and go to the provinces, they also criticize me for campaigning early," she lamented.

"So, I just prefer to go out and visit the people," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo described her provincial trips as not "politically viable," saying the far-flung towns she has visited and are going to visit in the future are not vote-rich areas.

"Do you think it is politically viable for me to visit Dinapigue where (Isabela) Gov. (Faustino) Dy (Jr.) said there are only few voters?" the President asked, referring to her next-day visit to the coastal towns of Dinapigue, Divilacan, Palanan and Maconacon to wrap up her two-day sortie.

Prior to Isabela, the President also visited the remote towns of Tinoc and Aguinaldo in Ifugao and Tanudan and Rizal in Kalinga.

The other day, the President also visited the remote towns of Daguioman, Baay-Licuan, Bucloc and Tubo in Abra, practically crisscrossing Northern Luzon in less than a week after a series of sorties in Mindanao.