Gatchalian brods slam rivals during proclamation rally

MANILA, Philippines -  Brothers Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian and District 1 Rep. Rexlon Gatchalian criticized their opponents during the proclamation rally of their Tayo Na, Valenzuela ticket on Sunday night.

“I have had enough of the congressman of the second district. He does nothing but spread rumors, lies,” Sherwin said in Filipino, referring to Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo.

Sherwin, who is on his last term as mayor, is running for Valenzuela’s first district. Gunigundo, on the other hand, is running for re-election and is pitted against Councilor Shalani Soledad, whose popularity soared in 2009 when she was the girlfriend of President Aquino.

Gunigundo’s wife, Adelma, is running against Rexlon for the post of Valenzuela mayor.

According to Rexlon, Gunigundo allegedly called the candidates for councilor running under their ticket as Sherwin’s “lackeys.”

Sherwin hit back at Gunigundo, saying the congressman was “nowhere to be seen” during the four calamities that hit Valenzuela in the past years. Sherwin held the pocket of his denim pants as he asked how Gunigundo’s P210-million pork barrel was spent.

Rexlon also hit Councilor Ritchie Cuadra, who is in a race with Sherwin to become the District 1 congressman. Without directly naming the councilor, Rexlon alleged that Cuadra had been accusing Sherwin of doing nothing during the latter’s stint.

“What ordinance have you passed when you were a part of the city council? I am sure that if you did not craft any ordinance, you will not craft any measure” in the House of Representatives, Rexlon said.

The two Gatchalians, as well as the candidates under their ticket, were able to address the crowd at past 10 p.m., about four hours after the proclamation rally started off with the speeches of the United Nationalist Alliance’s senatorial candidates.

The local candidates were each given 2 minutes and 30 seconds for their speech and a dance number for the candidates for councilor was limited to one minute.