Jamora says: Jed in panic, resorting to smear tactics
In panic mode, that is how Larry Jamora, now the leading candidate for city mayor describes his opponent, Jed Mabilog, whose camp has now resorted to black propaganda in a desperate attempt to stop the tide that is sweeping the entire city in favor of Jamora.
Jamora decried the smear tactics engaged in by the Mabilog camp as pathetic and pitiful. This only shows that their so-called lead in the surveys is a bubble, a myth that has been manufactured through a skilful manipulation of the survey methodology, said Jamora whose popularity and support, city-wide, has surged greatly and continues to grow by the day as more and more groups have begun to come out in his favor.
In a last ditch effort to derail the Jamora juggernaut, however, Mabilog’s camp have totally abandoned any semblance of propriety and fair play by distributing leaflets declaring Jamora’s faults as Administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Administration. Out of sheer lack of delicadeza, the leaflets are being distributed even in the churches. They even put out a full page paid political ad in a local paper (not The News Today).
Jamora dismissed the charges as totally empty. “It’s misleading and a total lie,” Jamora said the truth will bear me out. “Indi kami makawat. Wala kami ga-abusar. (We are not thieves. We have not oppressed anyone),” he further pointed out. (Please read: Under the Microscope: The charge vs. Jamora)
In fact, for a campaign that claims to enjoy a seemingly comfortable lead, it is the Mabilog camp that has been accused of engaging in shenanigans (through tearing down opponent’s posters and streamers) and disinformation by text messaging.
Through it all, Jamora toiled on with a high-level campaign presenting a platform of government that is comprehensive, specific, and well-laid out. It is in fact this show of sincerity and capability that has convinced many sectors to support Jamora.
Jamora started his campaign with a covenant with the urban poor. And though he has yet to be elected mayor, Jamora has delivered on some of these concerns thus further cementing the pact with no less than 85 urban poor organizations in the city comprising of about 30,000 member-families.
The business sector, including professionals in the banking, commercial, and service industries, have all pledged their open support for Jamora in a gathering at Hotel del Rio at the start of the local campaign period.
The transport sector – long disenchanted by repressive policies imposed by the city government, is clamoring for the change represented by Jamora. Already tricycle and trisikad drivers all over the city are all wearing green – Jamora’s campaign color.
There is also the silent but unmistakable support coming from the religious sector. Priests and lay leaders of the Catholic Church know of the Jamora family’s piety and unselfish support for the church and the poor. Thus, such religious organizations as the Couples and Singles for Christ, the Knights of Columbus, the Barangay sang Virgen, and similar groups are quietly passing the word around: Jamora is our candidate. Even the Protestants and Born Again groups are conducting pray overs for Jamora..
And the youth? Supposedly Mabilog’s bailiwick, Jamora has gained substantial converts from among the studentry with his impressive performance in the debates that were held in the various schools and universities. Now that regular classes are over, campaigning for Jamora has become the summer pursuit of many youth volunteers. They were even seen dancing to the Jamora jingle at Smallville, the gathering place of Iloilo’s youth.
Within the next few days, it is expected that more than half of the city’s Barangay Captains will openly declare for Jamora. With more warm bodies – leaders and supporters from all sides, now clamoring to get on board the Jamora bandwagon, Mabilog has been reduced to waving pieces of a warped survey headed for the trash bin of history.
