NP, LP word war worsens

The word war between the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nacionalista Party (NP) heated up further as their spokespersons on Monday accused each other’s organization of siding with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the past. In a text message, Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada said it was “unfair" of NP Spokesman Gilbert Remulla to sling mud at LP standard bearer, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, for failing to lead the LP bloc at the Lower House to impeach Mrs. Arroyo over the “Hello Garci" scandal, when “closet" members of NP voted against the impeachment.

“We all know how the House of Representatives was pressured to vote against the impeachment of GMA. The pork barrels of the congressmen were on the line," said Tañada, LP spokesperson. On the other hand, he said, the Liberals came up with a firm stance in the past impeachment case against the President and became “the biggest bloc" when it voted in favor of the complaint. But Remulla countered that it is Aquino who was once close to Mrs. Arroyo. Moreover, he said, when the Liberals took the Senate leadership and became part of the majority, “not one major expose on corruption perpetuated by (the Arroyo) administration had been done." “What we know in the NP is that Noynoy was very close to GMA at one point in time. Para sila BFF (They were like Best Friends Forever). While Sen. Noynoy was deputy speaker for Luzon, he and GMA (Mrs. Arroyo's initials) even had a big joint project inside Hacienda Luisita, the SCTEX," Remulla said. “Gloria-like" Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, an LP senatorial bet, branded NP presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr as “Gloria-like" for evading the C-5 controversy, where he was accused of inserting double funding for the road project to benefit his property. “He evaded the Senate C-5 inquiry. That is Gloria-like," Hontiveros said. “What ascendancy does he have to claim that he will not be Gloria Part 2 if he can't subject himself to the same process of accountability? Furthermore, how can he guarantee that he won't enter into any compromise with GMA?" But Remulla dismissed Hontiveros’ statement and instead urged LP “to focus their efforts in denying that their standard bearer is not a qualified and capable leader without a credible track record." The NP and the LP are the country's two oldest mainstream political parties that composed what was then considered as the pre-1972 two-party system, until the martial law years resulted in their fragmentation. Both parties gradually reorganized and regained strength especially after the 1986 EDSA revolt. The political rivalry between the NP and LP sharpened anew late last year, after it became clear that Aquino and Villar were becoming the two leading presidential aspirants in poll surveys and among political analysts. Villar, who topped the surveys before Aquino decided to enter the race, said people should not vote based on popularity and emotion. He also said that people should vote based on the candidate’s track record. Aquino, for his part, managed to lash back at Villar by criticizing the frequent airing of his rival’s campaign advertisements. – JV, GMANews.TV