Erap meets with Mindanao leaders, skips PDI debate

02/09/2010

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada yesterday skipped the presidential debate sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines as the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer yesterday met his political leaders from Mindanao, which took up virtually the entire morning and early afternoon.

“Various delegations from all over the country have sought an audience with President Joseph Estrada today (Feb. 8) at the PMP headquarters, including delegations from as far as Lanao del Sur and other parts of Mindanao, which President Estrada had to prioritize, for which reason former President Estrada was not able to attend the forum,” Estrada’s spokesman Margaux Salcedo, in a statement, said.

She added Estrada is more than willing to answer queries raised by the audience after being informed by an Inquirer reporter that there were certain questions that were specifically directed to him.

“We are expecting these questions via e-mail today and would be more than happy to answer them.

“We would like to emphasize that President Estrada has tried to accommodate as many forums as possible as his schedule permits, believing in the importance of sharing his platform with voters. It should be noted that President Estrada attended the forum of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) (Sunday), wherein other presidentiables were absent.”

Those who attended the Inquirer debate were Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP) and Manuel “Manny” Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Nicanor Perlas and JC de los Reyes of the “Ang Kapatiran.”

Sen. Noynoy Aquino was asked on constitutional matters, and reiterated his earlier warning that he will not recognize a chief justice who has been appointed by President Arroyo.

He also stressed that he is unwilling to give the 40 percent Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) due local governments if these LGUs underperform.

Under the Local Government Code, which is law, the LGUs get an automatic share of 40 percent of the IRA and for Aquino to withhold the IRA, should he become president, would be violating the law.

During the debate, rivals hit Villar for his political ads, his claim of being pro-poor, and supposed conflict of interest involving his businesses.

Madrigal, a staunch critic of the NP standard bearer, said “the use of children and actors — you have to pay P30 million (for them) to endorse you — is an insult to the Filipino intelligence.”

“That’s why I choose to respect the law. People, who have spent P2 billion in ads... have no right (to get elected as president),” she said.

“You will see my ads, I have no children. My ads are merely a reflection of my political platforms and my principles,” she added.

But a panel member pointed out that in the past, Madrigal herself used a movie actress — Judy Ann Santos — to help her get elected in the Senate in 2004.

Madrigal replied, “I agree but now, I have seen the folly my ways and I will not repeat that because I don’t believe that we should perpetuate lies that are perpetuated by thick budget.”

Madrigal received jeers, mainly from the Villar supporters, when she failed to give the market price of the scad, a fish variety, later saying that she didn’t know the price because she doesn’t eat fish.

For his part, Gordon also criticized candidates who project themselves as being “pro-poor.”

“You can see those who play cute with people, those who use advertising to say that they are poor and yet they are not when you see their record,” he noted.

Gordon said the poor were being exploited but often forgotten once the candidates were elected in office.

He stressed that if one is a leader, but rejects accountability he should not be voted by the people,” referring to Villar’s refusal to face the Senate investigation into his alleged involvement in the C-5 road project controversy.

Villar, however, defended his rise from poverty, asking his rivals whether it is difficult to believe that someone who was poor could get rich without being corrupt.

“Why is it difficult to believe that a poor man can be rich in a clean manner?” He asked.

The NP presidential bet claimed that when he joined politics, he was no longer engaged in any business.

“I have been a businessman for a long time and ever since I held posts in government, I have never been a businessman. I was the industry leader before I joined politics,” he said.

Candidate JC delos Reyes said that if he had Villar’s money, he would not spend so much on “empty” advertisements.

Villar was said to have spent P543 million in the last three months of 2009 alone. He is estimated to have plunked in at least P2 billion for all his ads.

During the debate, Teodoro said he would prioritize the agricultural sector and the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should he win the presidency in May 10.

He added he will also abide by the consensus on controversial policies such as the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

The former secretary of National Defense justified his withdrawal of support for the bill, saying it is difficult to impose a policy that is being objected by many people.

“For any policy, especially one as controversial as this, you have to work with the consensus, you can’t implement a law with such massive opposition,” Teodoro said.

For Teodoro, the RH bill is not the answer to the problem of population.

Teodoro also cited the need to allocate more budget for the modernization of the military equipment. He said that the P5 billion budget for modernization is not enough.

Charlie V. Manalo

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