Bayani to continue drive vs illegal vendors if he wins VP

Vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando will continue going after illegal sidewalk vendors if ever he wins in the May 10 elections. Interviewed during the “Hiritan 2010" segment of GMA News’ “Unang Hirit" morning show, Fernando said he is fully aware that he does not have the support of the vendors that were affected by the sidewalk clearing operations during his stint as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). “Yung illegal vendor, hindi bali na, ‘wag na nila akong iboto sapagkat pag ako’y naupo, hindi magbabago kapasiyahan ko na alisin ko sila riyan sa langsangan (I don’t care if those illegal vendors will not vote for me, I will still drive them out of the streets if ever I win," he said. He said the MMDA’s operations under his leadership had benefited the legal vendors, whom he said would likely vote for him. “Yung legal na vendor ako’y naniniwala na botong-boto sa akin yung mga ‘yon dahil pinagtanggol ko rin naman ang kanilang karapatan (I believe the legal vendors would vote for me because I fought for their rights)," he said. Fernando, also a former Marikina mayor, is known to lead with an iron hand. He said he would not mind losing votes in exchange for doing what he thinks is right. Discipline Should he win the vice presidency, Fernando said he would instill discipline among Filipinos to ensure that they would become law-abiding citizens. He added that being able to inspire Marikina residents to obey the law was his greatest achievement as their mayor. “Ang komunidad ay hindi lamang paaralan, hindi lamang yung pisikal na bagay, kung hindi po tao. ‘Yan po ang pinakamahalaga sa tao. Yan ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa Markina at ‘yan ang ibabahagi ko sa buong Pilipinas," he said. (A community is not just about schools or infrastructures. It’s about the people. Being able to build the people’s character was the most wonderful thing that happened to me in Marikina City, and that achievement is what I would like impart to the country.) Fernando's running-mate, Sen. Richard Gordon, who was also a guest in “Unang Hirit," said he would install the former MMDA chief as his infrastructure czar should he win the presidency. Gordon said Fernando, an engineer by profession, would oversee his government’s infrastructure projects, including railways and ports. - Aie Balagtas See/KBK, GMANews.TV