NP hits LP 'black propaganda'

MANILA, Philippines – The Nacionalista Party condemned yesterday what it called a concerted effort by the Liberal Party (LP) to resort to black propaganda to derail the bid of NP presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

NP secretary-general Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and six of the party’s senatorial candidates challenged the LP led by standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to bring the debate to a higher level that would focus on how to improve the life of Filipinos.

NP senatorial bets Susan “Toots” Ople, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Mon-mon Mitra, Liza Maza, Gwen Pimentel and Martin Loon, representative of his detained father, Col. Ariel Querubin, joined forces as a sign of unity against the LP’s smear campaign.

“In behalf of the NP and Senator Villar, I’m here to condemn the dirty tactics being waged by the other party that is using the politics of hatred,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano accused the supporters of Aquino of conducting the black propaganda, giving them the acronym “TOPAK ni Noynoy” – Trapo, Opportunista, Kamag-Anak Inc. of Noynoy.

He said Topak is composed of people who served in the core group of President Arroyo and are now helping in Aquino’s campaign.

Although Cayetano did not name names, among the former members of the Arroyo Cabinet who are now helping Aquino and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, are former education secretary Florencio Abad, former finance secretary Cesar Purisima, former social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman, former presidential adviser on peace process Teresita Deles.

“The fanatical zeal of character assassination against Senator Villar by Senator Aquino and his salivating attack dogs can only be done by most sinister and hallucinating minds,” he said.

Cayetano said they were the same people who launched the smear campaign against the late Fernando Poe Jr., and orchestrated Arroyo’s proclamation in 2004.

Mitra, Ople, and Marcos shared the same sentiment over the gall of the LP stalwarts to bring up the issue of the death of Villar’s brother, knowing very well that the issue of death in a family is “sacred” under Filipino traditions.

“It should not be to the extent to criticize why his brother was brought to Far Eastern University (FEU) and not the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). They did not know that the boy was brought to a number of clinics before FEU. Would you want that done to your brother?” Mitra asked.

Ople said that the way the LP is handling the campaign shows their lack of leadership in various issues.

In a statement read by his son, Querubin ruled out the possibility of Villar allying himself with President Arroyo. “From a pragmatic stand point, the NP under Sen. Villar has nothing to gain but everything to lose in making such an alliance (with Mrs. Arroyo),” said Querubin, who is detained at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

In a statement from Hong Kong where he spent his Holy Week, NP bet Gilbert Remulla also condemned the black propaganda perpetuated by Noynoy and his TOPAK crew against Villar, vice-presidential bet Sen. Loren Legarda and the NP senatorial candidates.

Meanwhile, Villar dared Aquino to reveal the sources of his campaign funds.

Villar said records will show that Aquino has already spent close to P500 million for his ads alone, urging the LP presidential bet to lay down his cards this early and do a proper accounting.

“Maybe he is benefiting from the Arroyo administration because he has some relatives in her Cabinet. There are also some LP members employed by President Arroyo. They’re the ones who have connections with the Palace, maybe that’s why they want to hide the true picture.

“It’s not impossible to have a ‘Gloriaquino’ candidate. To me, they have more to gain from an alliance with Malacañang than me. My supposed links with Mike Arroyo are really just vicious black propaganda. What is sinister is how they invent lies to hide their own political machinations,” Villar said.

LP senatorial bet detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim called on administration presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro to severe his ties with President Arroyo, saying this would erase impressions that he is just a “dummy candidate.”

“If Gibo wants to be treated as a candidate that is neither a ‘dummy candidate’ nor someone shackled to the administration, he should immediately declare independence and run on his (own) accord,” the rebel general said in a statement yesterday.

Lim made the remarks amid rumors that Teodoro had resigned as chairman of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party due to lack of support from the President. Teodoro has denied this, saying his resignation is intended to let him focus on his campaign.

Reports that Malacañang is secretly supporting Villar have raised speculations that Teodoro is a dummy candidate of the administration.

Palace officials and the camp of Villar have denied the rumors, dismissing them as black propaganda.

“Gibo gains nothing by remaining loyal to somebody who was never true to him. Hence, we enjoin him to ditch Gloria and by so doing, expose with finality her real candidate in this election,” Lim said. - With Alexis Romero