INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

GO to go ‘from bad to worse’ -- Arroyo political adviser

INQUIRER.net

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines -- Without the support of local officials, the campaign efforts the Genuine Opposition can be expected to go "from bad to worse," notwithstanding a Pulse Asia survey showing it leading the administration slate 7-5 in Metro Manila, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said Friday.

Claudio downplayed the survey, conducted in Manila's six districts from February 10 to 12, saying it was commissioned by the opposition and was limited to only the national capital.

"It [survey] has not factored or taken into account yet the machinery that is going to be largely responsible for the victory, the expected victory of the administration ticket," he said.

By a "formidable campaign machinery," Claudio said he meant the support of the administration and the "clout, influence, power, and credibility of mostly incumbent local government officials who [are] fully in support of the administration and TEAM [Together Everyone Achieves More] Unity."

"This is where power and winnability of the administration ticket is coming from," he said.

Claudio claimed GO could not even muster a hundred persons for a rally, the reason he claimed the opposition’s scheduled rally in Iloilo Tuesday had to be cancelled.

He said the opposition should admit this instead of claiming the rally was called off because of security threats.

"If the opposition cannot even have a rally in a province whose local executive is identified with the opposition, where else can the opposition can have a rally?" he asked, referring to Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas.

"This is very reflective of the entire situation that befalls the opposition…between now and the end of the campaign. We expect the efforts of the campaign of the opposition to go from bad to worse," Claudio said.

TEAM Unity entered the second day of its "Pulong Sulong" or townhall meetings campaign strategy, with the candidates, divided into three groups, going to Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

When the campaign for local office begins on March 30, Claudio said they expect to go "full throttle" because the administration's six major political parties are expected to mobilize themselves.

"We will go into full throttle and this will make a great big difference as far as the momentum of coalition candidates is concerned. We do expect that the emergence of the machinery of the administration will spell the victory of TEAM Unity," Claudio said.

He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is happy with the way the campaign of TEAM Unity is going.

As for the townhall meetings, Claudio clarified that no government resources are being spent for them.

In a separate telephone interview, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, TEAM Unity's media director, said community leaders and multi-sectoral organizations are organizing the townhall meetings and are footing the bill for these.

Evardone said spending government resources on these meetings is illegal and that local officials are aware of it.

He also said that the cancellation of GO’s major rallies was an indication the opposition is "collapsing."

Claudio said leaders of the parties in the administration coalition are constantly talking to resolve disputes in places where rival administration allies are seeking the same positions.

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