Bro. Eddie-Roco talks also called off

Presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva has rejected any teamup with Raul Roco after the standard-bearer of the Alyansa ng Pag-asa refused to be his vice presidential running mate under the banner of Bangon Pilipinas.

"There seems to be no giving up on Roco’s bid for president so there is no sense in merging forces," Luis Sison, a spokesman for Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipinas, said.

"Our concern now is to maximize the remaining time in getting the most number of votes out of the modest resources we have," he said.

Sison said there was no point in meeting with Alyansa officials when Roco announced that he would continue with his presidential campaign after he returns tomorrow from a medical checkup in the United States.

"We have been praying for him." he said. "And we really hope he is okay."

Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, Roco’s campaign manager and spokesman, said the idea of Roco withdrawing from the presidential race has not crossed their mind.

They are confident that Roco will pass his medical tests, he added.

Alyansa ng Pag-asa senatorial candidate Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Roco might return earlier than April 28 because of the clamor of his supporters.

Roco flew to the US last April 13 to seek medical attention for what he described as a "chronic back pain."

Meanwhile, Roco, his vice presidential running mate Hermie Aquino, and the Alyansa senatorial candidates led the pack in caring for the environment, according to the 2004 Green Electoral Initiative.

Questionnaires were given to the other presidential candidates and their partymates, with weight given to the most "progressive and concrete" answers.

The topics covered were waste management, genetically modified organisms, air pollution, water, logging, mining, overfishing, and toxic wastes in the former US bases at Clark Field in Pampanga and Subic Bay in Zambales.