Ex-Arroyo spokesperson helps Villar secure audience with Bacolod INC

A former spokesperson of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday helped Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. secure an audience with local leaders of Iglesia ni Cristo in Bacolod City. "Dinala ko siya (Villar) doon, gusto niya makausap ang mga INC leaders, ako lang ang nagpave ng way (I brought him there, he wanted to talk with the INC leaders)," Dr. Anthony Golez Jr. told GMANews.TV over the phone. Golez, also former spokesperson of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, is seeking the congressional seat of the lone district of Bacolod under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). He resigned as Mrs Arroyo's spokesperson last October. [See: Golez to quit Palace post, run as congressman for Bacolod (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176974/golez-to-quit-palace-post-run-as-congressman-for-bacolod)] Villar sought his help upon arrival at the airport, he said. "Pagdating lang kanina. Normally ganyan ginagawa niya pag bumibisita sa different provinces, bumisita sa different organization (He asked for my help when he arrived here. That's what he usually does when visiting provinces. He visits the different organizations in the area)," Golez said. Besides clarifying that he is not an INC member, Golez said he assisted Villar for personal, and not political reasons. "Close ang asawa ko [former Representative Soraya Jaafar-Golez] sa mga Villar, ninong namin siya sa kasal (My wife is close to the Villars. Villar was a principal sponsor in our wedding)," he said. Golez said Villar met INC leaders headed by Ka Toto Padilla. "They exchanged pleasantries, thoughts, and insights." Asked if there was any indication that the local INC will endorse Villar, Golez said that there are no such signs for the moment. "Hindi pa naman ngayon yan nalalaman (It will not be known now)." It has been the practice of candidates to seek the support of INC, which is known for bloc voting. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV