Lakas to start campaigning next week
Although it has yet to reveal its line up for the Senate, the local chapter of the ruling Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) will begin its campaign for the midterm elections in May by next week.
Speaking before over a hundred punong barangays identified with their group Saturday, Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez said that they will start their campaign for the national elections by first week of February. Gonzalez is the party chair for Iloilo City.
This is despite according to Sec. Mike Defensor the administration party has yet to finalize its list of candidates for the Senate. Twelve seats in the upper house are up for taking in the May midterm elections. Defensor said that they are choosing from the among almost 20 names in their list. Defensor, a member of the pro-administration wing of the Liberal Party, confirmed that he will run for senator.
Caucuses will also start at about the same time, Gonzalez said.
"That is our maximum effort to help the team of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," the secretary said.
At the same time, Gonzalez vowed to help only the 'purists,' a term he coined to refer to candidates who have been supportive of President Arroyo all the way.
"I will only help the purists, the loyalists, and no other," he declared.
Those, according to Gonzalez, who have been giving Mrs. Arroyo a headache but are with the administration party will not get his endorsement. The former three-termer Iloilo City representative particularly mentioned Senate president Manuel Villar and Sen. Ralph Recto.
He said that he contributed to the campaign of Villar and Recto in 2004.
"They don't seem to be trusted with the way things are going," he noted.
Gonzalez asked his political allies in the barangays not to allow other groups to gain ground.
"Do not allow groups other than ours to gain political ground," he said.
Gonzalez's stand to support only the 'purists' may not sit well with Defensor's so-called Unity Ticket.
Defensor admitted that some local Lakas party members have objected to the inclusion of some personalities in the senatorial line up.