INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

TEAM Unity studying Montano’s ‘additional needs’--spokesman

INQUIRER.net

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines -- TEAM Unity is assessing the “additional needs” of one of its senatorial candidates amid reports that his camp had been complaining about the lack of funding for his candidacy, the party’s spokesman said Tuesday.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano evaded questions on whether actor Cesar Montano's alleged gripes about money had basis, but said that the coalition was prepared to attend to this.

"As far as Cesar's concerns, [the] campaign group of TEAM Unity with Cesar is assessing his additional needs," Durano said in a text message.

Durano said the campaign group would sit down with Montano this week. One support that TEAM Unity can give the actor is by providing him with local coordinators in key provinces and cities, he said.

Over the weekend, reports said that Montano had been absent in some sorties because of lack of campaign funds.

"To run a good campaign, there are three things you need -- money, money, money," a source from Montano’s camp told INQUIRER.net.

Another source said it was good thing that the actor’s gripes about money came out so that the administration could be aware of it and act on it.

In a text message, Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said "there was never any commitment or deal about funding" when Montano agreed to join TEAM Unity as replacement to Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla.

Claudio, one of those who negotiated for Montano's entry into TEAM Unity, said intrigues about campaign funds were part of the opposition's smear campaign.

"I do believe Cesar's passion to run, win and help our country and people has not waned," he said.

Justifying Montano's absence is some sorties, TEAM Unity campaign manager Reli German said Montano took time off to work on his campaign strategy, supervise his commercials, and assess funding requirements.

Durano said the campaign funds of each candidate came from donors, the political party, and personal resources. He would not say, however, how much Montano's party, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, had given the actor.

Copyright 2009 INQUIRER.net and content partners. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.