MANILA, Philippines - The ratings of Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II as presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, of the Liberal Party soared in Batangas after former National Economic and Development Authority director general and Sen. Ralph Recto and his wife, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, joined their camp.But former Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, who left LP’s senatorial slate because of Recto’s entry, warned Aquino about the people they were accepting into the party.
Osmeña said Aquino must maintain the people’s confidence in pushing for new politics to sustain his wide lead from his opponents.
He said he has nothing personal against Aquino and the Rectos, but “would not like traditional politics to persist in the country.”
Based on a Nov. 15 to16 internal survey sent to LP following the Rectos’ defection to the LP, Aquino garnered 58 percent among 800 respondents; former President Joseph Estrada, eight percent; Escudero, seven percent; former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., one percent; Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., one percent; others, nine percent; and undecided, 16 percent.
For vice president, Roxas obtained 42 percent; Sen. Loren Legarda, 14 percent; Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, nine percent; Vice President Noli de Castro, seven percent; Santos-Recto, six percent; Sen. Panfilo Lacson, two percent; actor Edu Manzano, two percent; others, one percent; and undecided, 18 percent.
In Davao City, the latest survey reaching the LP office showed Aquino registering 52 percent; Estrada, 17.25 percent; Villar, 13.56 percent; Teodoro, 4. 99 percent; former Public Works and Highways chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., .56 percent; and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman, Bayani Fernando, .47 percent.
Osmeña said he would support Aquino but urged him to stop accepting traditional politicians into his party.
Not running under LP
He said over radio station dwIZ he would no longer run under LP even if the Aquinos would persuade him.
Osmeña said his wife wanted him to support Aquino because the senator’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, helped them when he was running for a Senate seat.
But beyond family attachments, Osmeña said he would like Aquino to remain independent from the old political system.
Osmeña also criticized the way some LP officials and members were dealing with potential political allies, saying he would name the “mafia” members in the LP at the right time.
But he said Aquino would make a good president if he wins because he is like his mother in terms of honesty and simplicity in lifestyle.
He said he admired Aquino’s values and that there were no news of corruption and abuses against him.
He said he did not like Recto for supporting the expanded value added tax instead of plugging loopholes in collecting duties and taxes and curbing smuggling in the country.
Recto’s reply
Recto earlier said he was surprised by Osmeña’s move and defended his track record as government official.
“First of all, we were invited to join LP, we did not apply,” Recto said.
He said Osmeña should not question his desire to be part of a good government because “my service in government is of public record” and “it is one unstained by any charge of corruption or wrongdoing.”
“I have always been known to speak out my mind, be it on the floor of the House (of Representatives), committee rooms of the Senate or inside Malacañang,” Recto said.
He said he opposed Executive Order No. 464, Charter change, the national identification system, the political killings, the proclamation of state of emergency and in the National Economic and Development Authority, the onerous provisions of contracts and abuses of giant oil companies.
“I have never allowed my party affiliation to get in the way of principles. I have unfairly borne the blame on a tax measure as if it was an executive decree that I signed but it was a measure pushed by the World Bank, proposed by the finance department, endorsed by Malacañang, originated in the House, approved by the Senate,” Recto said.
“This tax measure would not have passed without the support and cooperation of the members of Congress, including contributions made by Sen. Serge Osmeña. I did not invent VAT; it was introduced to the country when I was still in college in 1988,” he said.
Recto explained his position on taxes in general was that each one has an expiry date.
“A tax for one era might not be needed in the next. From day one, the next administration should set out the goals of plugging tax leakages, stopping smuggling, promoting honest procurement and curbing corruption so with more money at hand it can schedule the phasing down of tax rates, not only for VAT, but of income and business taxes.”
“I believe that a Noynoy Aquino administration will create a healthy economy, boost business confidence, and halt corruption, moves that will engender tax obedience among the people who after seeing that the taxes they pay are spent properly will be encouraged to pay the right taxes, thus generating enough revenues that could pave the way for the reduction of tax rates, which is the best dividend the people can get for honest governance,” Recto said.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=525645&publicationSubCategoryId=63
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