Zubiri: Fernando guilty of 'illusions of grandeur'

MANILA, Philippines – “Illusions of grandeur" would do you no good. So advised Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando, who insisted on running in the 2010 elections despite faring dismally in a recent survey on most preferred presidential bets. Zubiri, who is also secretary general of administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), said that Fernando should “face the reality" that he is not a strong contender in the presidential race. “Wala nang illusions of grandeur. Kung yung taong pipili diyan ay may ayaw sa inyo, kung yung tatanungin na taxi driver, waiter, mga manggagawa, mga magsasaka, ‘di naman binabanggit ang pangalan niyo ay dapat magpakatotoo tayo. Lalaki lang ang gastos niyo," Zubiri said in an interview on dzBB radio. ["There should be no illusions of grandeur. If you will ask the common people who will they vote for and your name is not mentioned, you should be realistic. You will only incur unnecessary expenses."] Earlier in the day, Fernando said that Pulse Asia’s recent survey – where only one percent of respondents preferred him – cannot thwart his presidential bid in the forthcoming elections. Fernando also chided Zubiri, who earlier said the MMDA chief had been dropped from Lakas’ shortlist of presidential bets because of his poor performance in Pulse Asia’s survey. “Zubiri’s statement is not valid. He cannot make a decision for the party," he said in Filipino. But in Sunday’s radio interview, Zubiri said that it was Lakas’ executive committee that decided to exclude Fernando in the administration party’s list. Zubiri also said that the executive committee was only being practical in dropping perceived weak contenders from its choices for possible standard bearers. “I’m just being truthful. First of all, kasama ang winnability. ‘Pag mahina at walang kapana-panalo (ang pinili), maraming mawawala sa partido, maraming lilipat [Winnability is one of those being considered. If a weak contender will be the party’s standard bearer, a lot of our members will transfer to other parties]," Zubiri said. “[That] is a political reality. We must be politically practical," he added. - GMANews.TV