Manny Villar's Spending. Paano Mababawi Pag Presidente Na.
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
CONCEPCION, Tarlac – Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday accused Sen. Manuel Villar, of using too much money in his campaign and forming an "unholy alliance" with the Arroyo administration.
"Alam niyo naman po, mapera yung kalaban ko. Magsasama-sama ang pwersa ng kadiliman," he told a crowd of about a thousand people at the Concepcion public market.
Ice cream vendor Jeff Garcia, 37, one of the faces in the crowd, said he would vote for Aquino not only because they hail from the same province but because of his strong conviction against graft and corruption.
"Maganda ang layunin niya sa kapwa," he said, adding that the public money that will be saved from corruption is enough to cause economic recovery.
In a press conference at his family’s ancestral house, Aquino admitted he cannot match Villar’s campaign advertisement spending.
LP vice presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas said they do not want their campaign to stoop down to the same level as Villar’s.
"Yun imaging, peke iyan, di totoo," he said.
"Hindi ko gustong bumaba ito sa ganoon, yung pagbobotox, yung pagtitina. Kasi lahat kami at napakarami ng ating mga kababayan nakikita si Senador Noynoy at gusto siya bilang siya. Hindi kinakailangan ng magpapeke, hindi kinakailangan na gumawa ng bago, o magpa-toupee, o kung anuman. Senador Noynoy, para sa amin, ang pinakamahalaga sa kanya ang kanyang puso," he added.
The LP frontrunners were accompanied by the whole senatorial slate except the jailed Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim who was represented by wife Aloy.
Lim kicked off his campaign through the internet, posting a clip at the video-sharing site, Youtube.com, explaining why he is seeking an elective post.
Lim, a former Scout Ranger chief, is detained at Camp Crame, facing trial by military and civilian courts for his involvement in the plot to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006 and in the November 2007 siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
He said if he did nothing amid corruption and other wrongdoings, "then I was, myself, complicit in their illegal acts."
Lim is also an adopted candidate of the Pwersa ng Masa of former President Joseph Estrada.
The LP’s other senatorial candidates are former Bukidon Rep. Nereus Acosta; Sonia Roco, widow of Sen. Raul Roco; former Senate President Franklin Drilon; Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel; former Sen. Ralph Recto; Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon; Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III; former Sen. Serge Osmeña; Yasmin Busran-Lao from Mindanao; Martin Bautista and writer Alex Lacson.
Noynoy’s sister Kris, who will represent Aquino in some provincial sorties, and girlfriend Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, were notably absent.
Roxas’ wife Korina Sanchez remained in the background.
Earlier in the day, the LP candidates heard Mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Concepcion.
