30K expected to witness Gibo-Edu rally in Antipolo

Administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD on Tuesday afternoon kicked off its campaign for the May elections with a motorcade from its headquarters in EDSA to Antipolo City, where a proclamation rally will be held at the Ynares Center. The motorcade was led by party standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his running mate Edu Manzano. They were joined by senatorial bets Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino, Rey Langit, and Ramon Guico. Around 10,000 are expected to attend the rally that would be held at the Ynares Sports Center, according to a report in Radyo ng Bayan. The gymnasium has a capacity of only 6,000. The report said another 20,000 are expected to turn up outside the gym to witness the proclamation. The ceremony will be led by Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo, who once served as congressman of the city. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, however, will have to skip the proclamation rally due to a busy schedule. Lakas-Kampi National Advisory Board member Gabriel Claudio said that prior to the start of the campaign, President Arroyo had already turned over the leadership of the party to Teodoro. He said President Arroyo’s absence in the proclamation rally does not mean she is not supporting Teodoro. The President has been accused of secretly supporting Nacionalista Party’s presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar. Black propaganda “That’s all black propaganda," Claudio said. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar, meanwhile, urged candidates in the 2010 national elections, especially administration bets, to conduct themselves with dignity and proper decorum and shun away from mudslinging and rumor-mongering. “We ask all of them - especially the administration candidates – to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum. Prove yourselves worthy of the sacred trust you seek," he said. Olivar also urged the voters to be more thoughtful and discerning and to focus on the platform, performance, character and leadership displayed by the candidates. “Reject the mudslingers, empty promisers, class warriors and hatemongers. We ask everyone to work together for a clean and peaceful election, with hopeful hearts, a positive spirit, and the will to prove ourselves worthy once again of our democratic freedoms so dearly won," he said.– with Nikka Corsino/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV