Junk ‘Gloria Labandera’ soap, solon urges GMA

An opposition leader in the House of Representatives urged President Arroyo yesterday to discourage the production and sale of a soap brand called "Gloria Labandera."

"She should put her foot down. This smacks of early politicking," said Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, who heads a big bloc of congressmen belonging to the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

He said the planned sale nationwide of the Gloria Labandera soap is clearly intended to promote this early Mrs. Arroyo’s re-election plans in 2004.

"There is no other purpose. Otherwise, they wont’ launch it. This soap is no different from other detergents, save for the political color," he said.

He added that he suspects that the idea of a soap being produced and named after the President "came from her principal media handler."

Padilla made the same appeal to the company that manufactured and presented a sample of Gloria Labandera to Mrs. Arroyo last week.

"This entity should avoid accusations that it is being used for political purposes and that it wants to cash in on a product by using the President’s name. It should immediately stop its production," he said.

The labandera tag came from supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada who stormed Malacañang gates last May 1.

The protesters had derisively called Mrs. Arroyo "Gloria labandera." Far from being piqued, the President proudly admitted that she is a descendant of a laundry woman.

Padilla also appealed to administration officials, including Palace advisers, to set aside politics and focus on the nation’s economic and peace and order problems.

He said Filipinos have high expectations of Mrs. Arroyo.

"We expect her to provide solutions to the country’s economic ills. She is an economist and she has the credentials to show that she could do well in this field," he said.

The Nueva Vizcaya solon is expected to be the next House minority leader if Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad, who is Liberal Party president, gives in to pressure from Malacañang and his own partymates to support the speakership bid of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr.

Abad and Padilla are the only remaining challengers to De Venecia. Other early aspirants have withdrawn after seeing the numbers the Pangasinan solon has mustered to reclaim his old post.

However, Mrs. Arroyo and her political advisers want Abad and his LP to remain with the pro-administration coalition led by De Venecia and to support the former Speaker.

They have suggested that the House under De Venecia create the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore for Abad. And equivalent post is existing in the Senate.

As of last Friday, the Batanes lawmaker was still a contender for the top House post.

There is an understanding between Abad and Padilla that if the Batanes solon ignores Palace overtunes for him to support De Venecia, Padilla and other LDP solons will support him in opposing the Pangasinan solon’s comeback bid.