KBL's Acosta claims to have nationwide support

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan’s (KBL) standard bearer Vetellano Acosta on Friday claimed he has nationwide support despite his inability to come out of the shadows nearly three weeks after the start of the campaign period. “Hindi ko masabi kung gaano kalakas ang suporta para sa atin. Pero tayo ay kilala sa Luzon, Visayas, at lalo na sa Mindanao," Acosta said during the "Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interview" with GMA news anchor Mike Enriquez aired over radio dzBB on Friday. (I can’t tell how strong my support is. But I am popular in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.) Acosta — the least known of the standard bearers — has failed to appear in any presidential forum and in campaign sorties and voters have yet to see campaign posters and advertisements introducing him as a presidential candidate. But Acosta expressed confidence that Filipinos knew him, and that his supporters even volunteered to help in his campaign. He, however, admitted he has yet to come up with campaign materials introducing his bid for the country’s highest position. "Iyong television, radio, at newspaper ads, sisimulan pa lang... magkakaroon din kami niyan," Acosta said. (We are producing television, radio, and newspaper ads and we will have those in time.) In earlier interviews, Acosta's running mate Jose ‘Jay’ Sonza was vocal about not at all being familiar with their party's standard bearer. In Friday’s interview Acosta responded to Sonza’s earlier statement by saying, "I also do not know him. We have yet to discuss if we are going to campaign together." Asked to endorse his senatorial line-up during interview, Acosta failed to name anyone, but he insisted that each one in the slate has already started campaigning individually. The KBL is fielding six senatorial candidates this May: Imelda Papin, Hector Villanueva, Shariff Ibrahim Albani, Nanette Espinosa, Alma Lood, and former Comelec Commission Regalado Maambong. Too busy for public forums Introducing himself as an international financial consultant, Acosta claimed that his other business engagements and health conditions have prevented him from campaigning early on. "Busy po tayo, at may mga komplikasyon rin sa ating kalusugan kaya 'di nakapangampanya," Acosta said, adding that he allots 40 percent of his time to the campaigns, with the remaining 60 percent to his other engagements. He also said he has no plans of attending any presidential forum. "Walang basehan kung ano ang pagdedebatehan. Ayokong makipagdebate. Ano pang pagdedebatehan natin kung alam mo naman na ang solusyon (I don’t see any reason for engaging in debates. I dislike debates. There’s no point in debating on issues if one already knows the solution)." Acosta said he was not used to speaking in public forums, and that he will deal with public speaking once he gets elected. "'Di ako sanay sa mga forum. Tsaka nalang 'pag presidente na." He also said he was not fond of publicity and left the judgment to the people. "Hindi ako mahilig sa publicity. Kung ayaw ng tao, wala tayong magagawa." (I am not fond of publicity. If the people don’t want me, then I can’t do anything about it.) Acosta also did not clearly describe his relations with KBL's founders — the Marcoses: "'Di pa kami nag-uusap ni Bongbong. Wala rin kaming arrangement ni Imelda, pero baka this coming week magkakaroon ng pag-uusap," Acosta said, referring to Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and his mother Imelda. (Bongbong and I have yet to talk. Imelda and I have yet to reach an agreement possibly anytime this week.) The younger Marcos is currently running for senator under the Nacionalista Party. Five-point agenda Asked about his platform of government, Acosta highlighted a "change in the system" as key to development. To achieve that, he mentioned five agenda. These are: development, peace and order, international trade facilities, price control on all products, and management." He stressed the need to slash taxes, particularly the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) which he claimed is a burden to the people. "Bawasan lahat ng buwis. Tanggalin ‘yang E-VAT dahil ‘yan ang pahirap sa mga Pilipino...Kailangan ring itaas ang sweldo ng mga manggagawa para 'di na sila mangibang-bansa." Views on several issues As with his views on various issues, Acosta responded briefly in general terms. He said he is against any change in the Constitution, as well as to a shift to parliamentary or federal forms of government. Asked how he would deal with private armies and Mindanao in general, Acosta reiterated his platform on development as key. “Kailangan ng development sa Mindanao para mawala ang mga ‘yan [private armies] (Mindanao needs development to eradicate private armies)." When asked how this can be achieved, he admitted he could not answer the question. He also said he was against abortion, and by implication, opposed the Reproductive Health bill: “Nature ‘yan eh. Kung ano ang pinagkaloob, sundin natin, ‘wag nating lampasan (That’s nature. We should just follow and not go beyond what has been given us)." He maintained, however, that he is not wooing the religious sector. “Hindi tayo nanunuyo. Depende sa kanila [kung susuportahan nila tayo]," but he later added, “Ang pag-asa nila ay nasa akin. Ang pag-asa ko ay nasa kanila. Magtulungan na lang kami." (We are not wooing them. It's up to them if they will support us. Their hopes rest on me and my hopes lie with them. So we might as well help each other.) When asked about his prospective Cabinet members, Acosta did not name anyone but identified “honesty" as a quality they must be imbued with. “Wala pa akong alam diyan…pero basta honest, pwede na (I don’t know anything about that as long as they are honest, that’s fine with me)." Despite lagging in surveys and in campaigns, Acosta maintained he will not back out of the race. But he also discounted the possibility of running again. "Nakapasok na ako. 'Di na po ako pwedeng lumampas. (I'm in. I can no longer back out.)I will try my best to stand by my position." When asked by Enriquez the same closing question that other presidential candidates had been asked, "Ikaw na ba, Ginoong Acosta? (Are you the man, Mr. Acosta?)" the KBL presidential bet gave the same non-committal answer: " Hindi ko masasagot iyan. Malalaman na lang natin pagkatapos ng election. Doon, sasagutin kita." (I cannot comment on that. We will know about it after the polls. I will answer your question when that time comes). - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV