GMA acts on kinks in Negros coalition

BACOLOD CITY — President Arroyo held a closed-door meeting with Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and local officials here yesterday reportedly to discuss what are perceived to be kinks in the Lakas-CMD’s coalition with the local Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Mrs. Arroyo declined to comment on what transpired during the meeting, but Marañon said he will support her as long as the coalition stays.

The President’s visit was the second in only two weeks, further fanning speculations that the local coalition between the Lakas-CMD and NPC is shaky and that a shift to the camp of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. is a possibility.

Mrs. Arroyo was here last March 19 for a campaign sortie and to attend Marañon’s birthday celebration in Sagay City.

Yesterday, she stayed for about three hours here, two hours of which were spent in the closed-door meeting with the local officials.

The President also keynoted the opening ceremonies of the Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park here.

She is scheduled to be back tomorrow as guest of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

However, Marañon and his fellow NPC partymates will not be around to welcome her because of their scheduled meeting at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila to decide on the fate of their coalition with Lakas-CMD.

Marañon admitted that the time Mrs. Arroyo spends in her Negros sorties could influence their decision on whether to support her or not.

He said he will tell the coalition members about the President’s wish to be involved in Negros Occidental and her promise to develop the province further.

Secretary Mike Defensor said a strong bond exists between the Lakas-CMD and the NPC, adding that problems do crop up but are easily threshed out.

"Strategically, we want the bond to continue until the day of the elections," he said.