NPC to junk 5 Senate bets from opposition

Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda announced yesterday his Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) would not be supporting five senatorial candidates of the Puwersa ng Masa, the coalition bloc of opposition parties and independents.

Meanwhile, the ruling Lakas party claimed Puwersa ng Masa is facing a cash shortage because of the various bank freeze orders issued against former President Joseph Estrada, the main source of the opposition’s funding for the campaign.

Maceda, a known ally of Estrada and president of the NPC, said they will be junking former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, former Estrada adviser Jamby Madrigal, Muslim leader Ombra Tamano, former Sen. Santanina Rasul and former Information Undersecretary Reuben Canoy.

The NPC noted that Mercado remains unpopular with Estrada supporters for having joined the EDSA II uprising last January. The former defense chief was adopted by Puwersa although he filed his candidacy as an independent.

Madrigal, Estrada’s presidential adviser on children’s affairs, comes from a rich and influential family. Estrada supporters and even Puwersa bets have been criticizing the elite, blaming them for Estrada’s downfall.

Canoy, Tamano and Rasul are all from Mindanao. With the decision to junk the three candidates, the NPC no longer has any senatorial bet from Mindanao to support in the May elections.

Maceda said the NPC would instead be supporting a number of candidates from the administration’s People Power Coalition (PPC), including re-electionist Senators Juan Flavier, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Sergio Osmeña III.

The NPC had been a member of the now defunct Lapian ng Masang Pilipino organized by Estrada. Businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, founding head of the NPC, earlier proclaimed the party would concentrate on the local elections and leave the selection of senatorial bets to the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

The NPC has also allowed its local chapters to enter into alliances with other political parties, including Lakas and LDP.

Opposition running out of cash – Lakas

Lakas-NUCD-UMDP executive director Joey Rufino said yesterday the opposition Puwersa is worried that funds may not be replenished during the campaign period because of the various freeze orders on Estrada’s assets.

In a statement, Rufino said reports reaching his office indicate confusion in the opposition ranks following orders from the Ombudsman to freeze all known assets of the deposed leader.

The government has also warned banks and financial institutions against facilitating attempts by Estrada to get hold of funds deposited in secret bank accounts.

"The warning could mean a possible cutoff of the flow of money into the opposition’s campaign for national and local posts," Rufino said.

He noted that the government is also on a tight watch over heavy cash outlays and money transfers as part of its campaign "to track down Estrada’s unexplained wealth."

Rufino remained confident the PPC will get a 13-0 sweep in the senatorial race.

"The Filipino people want changes and abhor anything or anyone associated with

Estrada or his cohorts," he said.

Opposition scores PPC’s trapo tactics

The Puwersa-LDP coalition scored the administration yesterday for sticking to worn-out tactics of packing their campaign sorties with bold stars in order to entice the public to join their rallies.

Puwersa spokesman Juanito Remulla accused the PPC of paying lip service to its advocacy of "new politics" by focusing more on appearances rather than core issues that affect the daily lives of the masses.

Remulla said this was in stark contrast to the opposition’s campaign sorties where people spontaneously come out of their houses to watch and listen to their platform of government.

He said the PPC hired bold stars to spice up political rallies due to anemic public reception, even in urban centers – the bastion of their public support. The PPC also hired experts in public speaking and power dressing to make candidates more appealing to the public.

"The gyrating tactics of the PPC involving movie stars dressed in skimpy dresses to entertain the public only debase further the political consciousness of the electorate," Remulla said.