INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Congressman Aquino stays away from Ilocos Norte sortie

Inquirer

Norman Bordadora

LAOAG CITY -- Tarlac Representative Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III admitted on Wednesday that he kept his distance from the Genuine Opposition's rally and sorties in the province of Ilocos Norte, reputed to be the last stronghold of the family of his father's top tormentor, ousted President Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino said he had to turn down a request from the Genuine Opposition’s avowed leader and yet another deposed leader, ex-president Joseph Estrada, for him to attend the Laoag leg of GO's election campaign in northern Luzon.

Estrada had been instrumental in GO's last major rally outside Metro Manila when all GO candidates -- except for the detained former officer Antonio Trillanes -- gathered in Davao City weeks ago after he personally called each one of them.

"I explained to him that I'm not sure if what I have been saying all along in our campaign sorties will do us good in Laoag. I might just contribute to the divisiveness if I say those things," Aquino said in a telephone interview.

The platform of Aquino, son of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., and former president Corazon Aquino, is on truth and accountability for government officials.

In his campaign, Aquino says these are ideals that his father and mother fought for when they went against the Marcos dictatorship.

The Aquino family believes that Marcos masterminded the Aquino assassination in 1983. Then president Corazon Aquino had the Marcoses' alleged ill-gotten wealth seized by her Presidential Commission on Good Government.

"Going there is not something you will do without proper planning with our leaders [in the area]. Sooner or later, I will have to go there to campaign," said Aquino who is now on his first national campaign after running for Congress to represent Tarlac thrice.

Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos II, son of the late dictator, said it would be best for all senatorial candidates, not just Aquino, to personally be present in the province to court the votes of Ilocanos.

"It will be best if they come here so they can tell the people directly what they plan to do for Ilocos Norte," Bongbong told reporters.

Bongbong said Ilocos Norte's leaders had yet to decide whom to support among the senatorial candidates that included two from the Aquino clan -- GO's Aquino III and TEAM Unity's Tessie Aquino-Oreta.

"The local campaign has yet to start," Bongbong said.

"The Marcos family does not dictate on whom Ilocanos will vote for. There will be consultations among local leaders on whom we will support for the Senate," he added.

Oreta had visited Laoag with a number of her fellow administration stalwarts.

Aquino said he had been invited by staunch Marcos ally and now administration congressman Roque Ablan to campaign in Ilocos Norte.

Ablan is a classmate, even seatmate, of Aquino’s father at the University of the Philippines College of Law before the late senator left law school. Ablan and the older Aquino were also fraternity brothers in the Upsilon Sigma Phi.

Former senator John Osmeña, who also comes from a family that went directly against Marcos during his presidency from 1965 to 1986, said there was nothing wrong about campaigning and touching base with political opponents from the past.

"What would be more awkward about an Osmeña campaigning in Laoag? My grandfather, Sergio Osmeña III, ran against Marcos. And I was part of the opposition against Marcos," Osmeña told reporters here.

Osmeña shared a table with Marcos' son, Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos II, during a news conference with local reporters and journalists from Manila covering the GO campaign.

He also attended the lunch hosted by the governor at the provincial capitol.

"I know I am weak here so I decided to come here to campaign," Osmeña said.

Osmeña said Estrada had called him to attend the Laoag rally because "Governor Bongbong is waiting for you."

San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito, one of GO's campaign leaders and Estrada's son, confirmed that Estrada again made calls to the candidates for them to attend the Laoag rally and sorties.

"But he understands [that some candidates won't be able to make it]. GO blitz is already in place and some candidates need to be in places where they have to make up ground [after lagging in the surveys in the said areas]," Ejercito said.

Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano also had to beg off because he had to attend to his disqualification case against Joselito "Peter" Cayetano early Thursday morning.

Alan Cayetano has a special interest in Laoag because of Marcos’ recent statement that he, as Kilusang Bagong Lipunan leader, is not officially recognizing Joselito "Peter" Cayetano as a KBL senatorial candidate.

Alan Cayetano had asked the Comelec to disqualify Joselito Cayetano, who had no electoral track record to speak of, as a "nuisance candidate" deployed by Malacañang to confuse voters and derail Alan Cayetano’s candidacy.

The Comelec, however, recognized Joselito Cayetano’s candidacy on the strength of the endorsement given by another KBL leader Oliver Lozano.

"I also have to meet with my lawyers [on Wednesday]," Alan Cayetano said, hinting at the tiresome land trip he would have had to make if he would attend the Wednesday night rally.

Former senator Ernesto Maceda, a member of UNO's executive committee, said having "six senators" in Laoag was already a good number.

"It's not exactly one of your regional centers," Maceda said.

"But the candidates will send representatives. For instance, I am representing Antonio Trillanes," he added.

The GO candidates who arrived in Laoag Wednesday morning for the early evening rally included Senate President Manuel Villar, former senator Loren Legarda, and Osmeña.

Also expected to attend were former senator Anna Dominique “Nikki” Coseteng and lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, son of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

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