EDITORIAL - Political tactics

CEBU, Philippines – Political intrigues had managed to grab the limelight during the observance of the Holy Week.

A report last week had it that the family of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has been pressured by First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo to shift loyalty from Lakas standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro to Nacionalista Party candidate Manny Villar.

But Garcia has denied any order from the Arroyo family. She claimed the report is only a plot to undermine her family's support for Teodoro.

"We expect this to be a dramatic political season with eyebrow-raising headlines," Garcia said. Seeing no reason to doubt President Gloria Arroyo's support for the Lakas presidential bet, the governor even said it was the president who secured the support of her party, the One Cebu, for Teodoro.

Even Teodoro himself did not escape from intrigues. He denied rumors that he was considering withdrawing from the presidential race because of his consistently low ratings.

"Such rumors are originating from sectors who will cast aside our notions of decency to satiate their salivation and hunger for power through the presidency. Unfortunately, such is commonplace in politics, which reinforces my determination to make a stand, to continue the fight. I will settle for no less than victory, our people deserve no less," he said.

Undeniably, Cebu is a vote-rich province. In the 2004 general elections, it voted for Arroyo, who won by more than a million votes in the province over her nearest rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr.

The reason why presidential candidates are shuttling to Cebu nowadays is because they hope Cebuanos would vote for them. But Cebuanos are wise voters. They are known to always vote for the right leaders.

Sometimes, they even go for the underdogs they think have the right platforms of governance. But this is not to say Cebuanos are united in supporting one candidate because they are not like some religious groups such as the El Shaddai or Iglesia ni Cristo.

Still, some see the rumors on the pressure against the Garcia clan and on Teodoro's plan to withdraw are only part of the political tactics aimed to mislead Cebuanos.