P’panga pols clash over GMA support

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Clashing supporters of President Arroyo in this home province of hers want either her intervention or the lack of it in the 2007 local elections.

This city’s mayor, Oscar Rodriquez, who belongs to Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats, the administration party, said Malacañang, through presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, is working out ways to settle conflicts among pro-administration politicians who have expressed plans to vie for the same positions in this year’s polls.

"There is a move for administration candidates to respect the principle of the equity of the incumbent. For me, this applies to all pro-administration parties," Rodriquez said.

Rep. Reynaldo Aquino, of the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi), a pro-administration party, however, said it would be better for the President not to intervene "since all of them support her anyway."

Aquino has made known his plan to run for mayor of this capital city against Rodriquez, who is said to be seeking a second term.

At the gubernatorial level, provincial board member Lilia Pineda, a known ally of the President but who is not affiliated with any party, has bared her plan to run against incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid, Lakas-CMD provincial chairman, who is also seeking a second term.

Bukidnon Rep. Jose Miguel Zubiri, Lakas-CMD party secretary-general, earlier told The STAR that they were working out ways to arrive at a coalition senatorial slate with Kampi and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

At the local level, Zubiri said respect for the principle of the equity of the incumbent was being pushed to avoid conflicts among supporters of the President.

Aquino, however, said Kampi national officials were not inclined to forge any alliance with Lakas-CMD at least at the local level.

"It is possible that a coalition slate could be reached for the senatorial slate, but not at the local level," he said.

Aquino advised Pineda to join Kampi in her gubernatorial bid. "She can be adopted as the official gubernatorial bet of the party and it would be better for her to have a party when she runs for governor," he said.

The politically influential Pineda clan from Lubao, the President’s hometown, was reportedly irked by Lapid’s failure to take in Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, Lilia’s eldest son, as his vice gubernatorial candidate in favor of businessman Paul Laus, son of Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive officer Liberato Laus.

This has reportedly prompted the Pinedas’ patriarch, Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, to declare "war" against the Lapids.

The STAR tried to get the comment of the governor’s father, Sen. Lito Lapid, on their conflict with the Pinedas, but he said he would rather keep mum on the controversy so as not to give the President more problems.

Last November, several mayors in the province, said to be supporting the Pinedas, bolted Lakas and joined Kampi, citing the need for better leadership at the provincial Capitol.

At a recent Lakas forum here, Zubiri cited the need for unity among the President’s supporters, saying "the force of the opposition might come out stronger," especially in the congressional races.

Zuburi described the last three years of the Arroyo administration as "crucial," saying the impeachment moves against the President would succeed should enough members of the opposition win seats in the House.

He admitted cracks looming at the local level, but said arrangements were being made with Rep. Luis Villafuerte, Kampi secretary-general, so that the "equity of the incumbent" principle would be respected.

Zubiri said the President still enjoys the solid support of local officials. "If she can use this machinery, administration candidates will win," he said.