INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Estrada magic tested in Davao opposition rally

Inquirer

Norman Bordadora

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- If there ever were any doubts the vaunted Estrada “magic” was waning, these were put to rest after most of the Genuine Opposition’s senatorial candidates scrambled to get to this city to campaign at ousted president Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s “request.”

“Mindanao is really so close to the heart of President Erap that he called the candidates and asked them to go to Davao,” said Estrada son and GO campaign manager, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Except for Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV, who is detained on rebellion charges, and reelectionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who said he was ill, all the members of the GO ticket confirmed their attendance at the opposition’s kick-off rally in the southern Philippines held Thursday night at Rizal Plaza in this city.

Trillanes, however, will have a stand-in at the rally which will mark the first time practically all the GO candidates will be together since their Plaza Miranda proclamation rally on Feb. 24.

Senate President Manuel Villar confirmed Estrada had called to ask him to come to Davao.

“He called and asked that I be here. It’s also been some time since I was here so it’s a good opportunity to campaign in Mindanao,” Villar told reporters.

The slate has been plagued by doubts of its candidates’ ability to campaign as a team after some bets missed sorties to go out on their own.

It has also been hounded by financial woes from the start.

“They say we’re disorganized and yet the surveys still show that we’ll win,” Ejercito said.

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