After shakeup, admin party to hold top-level meet on financial 'woes'

After a top-level revamp during the Holy Week, officials of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party will discuss “problems" on campaign finances in a high-level powwow on Tuesday. Lakas chairwoman and House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa on Monday said the party wants to make sure finanaces should the campaign kitties of candidates, particularly those running for senator. “Ang in-charge sa senatorial candidates, si Butch Pichay. Bukas sa meeting kakausapin ko si Butch. Sabi ni Butch may pondo sa kanya, inaasikaso niya lahat na pangangailangan. Sabi ko tingnan mo rin baka may nakakalimutan ka (The one in-charge of our senatorial candidates is Butch Pichay. I will bring up the matter with him at Tuesday’s meeting. He had said the party has funds and that he is taking care of the candidates’ needs. But I told him to double check if he may have overlooked something)," Villarosa said in an interview on dwIZ radio. She was referring to Prospero Pichay Jr., the administration party’s vice president for membership and recruitment. But Villarosa also stressed that Tuesday’s meeting will be a “regular" one for the party’s executive committee. “It’s a regular meeting of the party," she said. The party’s fund woes were made public after several of its candidates – including vice presidential bet Eduardo “Edu" Manzano – complained they were not getting enough funds. Meanwhile, one of the party’s senatorial bets has admitted they are still not getting funds, but getting support in other ways. “Wala akong natatanggap na pondo galing sa partido. Ang ating pangangampanya sariling sikap at sa tulong ng malalapit na kaibigan at kamaganak (I have not received funds from the party. My campaign expenses so far have come out of my own pocket and from friends and relatives' help)," senatorial candidate Raul Lambino said in an interview on dzXL radio. This is why, he said, he still has no ads on television, radio or newspapers. On the other hand, he said he has received help from the party “in kind," particularly through campaign materials, adding that he is campaigning separately from standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who was scheduled to campaign in Albay province. Lambino was scheduled to campaign in Pangasinan, which marked its foundation anniversary Monday. Poll watchers support Lambino said the administration party is supporting its candidates, especially those running at the local level, through poll watchers. “Ang local susuportahan sa pamamagitan ng watcher. Malaki rin ang bibigyan na allowance sa watcher. Kung merong darating na financial support malaking tulong sa akin yan (Local candidates will be supported through poll watchers. This is no joke because of the big allowances for watchers. But if there will also be financial support for candidates, that would be a big plus)," he said. Singson transfer downplayed Lambino downplayed the transfer of former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson to the Nacionalista Party, saying it was typical of some politicians. “Alam natin ang laro nila at madalas nila gawin yan di lang sa halalang ito kundi sa nakaraang halalan (We know their game and they do it not only in this election but in past elections)," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV