Friday, December 11, 2009

Erap party fields more bets in congressional races


12/12/2009




Original Story: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091212hed6.html


With 68 strong contenders for the House of Repre-sentatives already officially endorsed by opposition standard-bearer Joseph Estrada and more clamoring to obtain his support even after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) drew an official close to the registration period for local candidates last Dec. 1, the United Opposition (UNO) has achieved an 80-percent representation in all the country’s congressional districts

and is confident that 2010 will be a banner year for Estrada’s party.

Estrada’s spokesman Margaux Salcedo in jest referred to Estrada as the most popular jukebox there is, and local candidates the hit records scrambling to be included in his roster of surefire hit selections.

“Each candidate who seeks President Estrada’s endorsement confirms his position as the true force to reckon with in 2010,” Salcedo, in a statement, said.

“Surveys do not represent in full the true voice of the people – only the crowds that welcome him everywhere he goes, and the support he receives from both national and local candidates seeking his endorsement, reflect the reality of the current political landscape.”

According to Salcedo, all this only proves that Estrada’s clout remains largely undiminished and is, in fact, growing steadily.

She also brushed aside the reported proliferation of black propaganda particularly on the Internet casting aspersions on Estrada’s character.

“As President Estrada’s candidacy gains ground, the wave of black propaganda will increase and intensify proportionately,” Salcedo stressed. “We know that, because it is a fact of life in politics that the most popular candidate always receives the lion’s share of brickbats and criticisms.”

But Salcedo maintained that Estrada’s camp remains focused solely on bringing the latter’s message of hope and unity throughout the country.

“We want everyone, especially the masses who have never wavered in their support for President Estrada, to know that the opposition’s standard-bearer is in this for the long haul, and there is no turning back in his goal of claiming the presidency not for his benefit, but for the benefit of the poor and downtrodden who look to him for deliverance,” Salcedo said.

In Metro Manila, Estrada will field Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (San Juan), Toby Tiangco (Navotas), Arnold Vicencio (Malabon), Monique Lagdameo and Abigail Binay (1st and 2nd districts, Makati CIty), Ricardo Puno Jr. (Muntinlupa), Romeo Candazo (Marikina), Ed Javier and Roilo Golez (1st and 2nd districts, Para?aque).

James Layug (2nd district, Taguig), Ronald Valeriano, Manuel Zarcal, Amado Bagatsing, Benny Abante (2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th districts, Manila), Allan Francisco, Franz Pumaren, Albert Palacios (2nd, 3rd and 4th districts, Quezon City).

In Calabarzon, it will be Nelson Sonny Collantes (3rd district, Batangas), Bernardino Tagarao and Danny Suarez (2nd and 3rd districts, Quezon), Dan Fernandez, Boy Aquino and Egay San Luis (1st, 3rd and 4th districts, Laguna), Danilo Suarez (3rd district, Quezon).

The northern provinces will have the following bets: Maki Pulido, Rachel Arenas, Gina de Venecia and Eduardo Libatique (1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th districts, Pangasinan), Reynolan Sales (1st district, Ilocos Norte).

Cagayan Valley bets include Jack Enrile (1st district, Cagayan), and Eleazar Balderas (Quirino).

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, it will be Liso Agpas (Benguet), Mailed Molina (Abra), Thomas Killip (Mountain Province), Placido Wachayna Jr. (Ifugao).

Carrying the opposition’s colors in Bicol will be Arnulfo Fuentebella (3rd district, Camarines Sur), Flor Solis (2nd district, Sorsogon), Karla Letada Bunan and Francisco Booc Jr. (1st and 3rd districts, Masbate).

For the Visayas, the line-up includes Mayette Roño and Catalino Figueroa (1st and 2nd districts, Samar), Mateo Biong (Eastern Samar), Aniceto Saludo (Southern Leyte), Ramon Arenas Jr. and Zafiro Lauron (2nd and 3rd districts, Iloilo), Benhur Salimbangon and Gilbert Wagas (4th and 5th districts, Cebu), Sally Zaldivar (Antique), Apple Saraspe (Aklan).

Anthony Dequina will contest the 1st district seat in North Cotabato.

The opposition’s colors will be carried by Victor Yu and Aurora Cerilles (1st and 2nd districts, Zamboanga del Sur)and Mhedy Gonzales (1st district, Zamboanga City) in the Zamboanga peninsula.

The Northern Mindanao bets are led by Benjo Benaldo and Rufus Rodriguez (1st and 2nd districts, Cagayan de Oro) and Peter Unabia (1st district, Misamis Oriental).

Further south in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Estrada’s candidates are led by Tahira Ismael (Basilan), Salic Mundir and Akbar Balt Lucman (1st and 2nd districts, Lanao del Sur) and Samsula Adju (1st district, Sulu).


Original Story: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091212hed6.html

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