Chavit scolds Defensor: ‘You’re too talkative’

Luis “Chavit" Singson hit his fellow Team Unity senatorial candidate Michael Defensor for the latter’s “talkativeness", which the Ilocos Sur governor said resulted in confusion over the issue on whether TU would junk a bet in favor of Gregorio “Gringo" Honasan. “Eh si Mike Defensor kasi, sinasakyan lahat. Masyadong madaldal nga 'yang batang 'yan (Mike Defensor rides on all issues. This boy is indeed too talkative)," Singson told GMA News’ 24 Oras in an interview on Monday. Earlier reports said Defensor allegedly spread the information that TU will either junk Cesar Montano or Jamalul Kiram in favor of Honasan, who is now running as independent senatorial candidate. In another interview with 24 Oras, Defensor clarified that he was not welcoming Honasan to the administration coalition, but only said that he was welcoming the former military man’s release from prison. “Ang sinabi ko ay ang pag-welcome do’n sa pagkaka-bail. Kasi tinanong kung ano ang reaction naming. Pero yung TU, is the TU, 12 kami, nagtutulungan kami," he said. Meanwhile, Montano told 24 Oras that he did not blame Defensor on reports that he was one of the bets who could be replaced by Honasan. “Hindi kami nagkakalayo naman sa linya o sa survey. Kung sasabihin niya sa akin ‘yon, parang sinabi n’ya na rin sa sarili n’ya ‘yon. Hindi n’ya talaga gagawin ‘yon. (My rank and Defensor’s rank in election surveys are not far from each other. If Defensor would tell me that I would be the one junked by TU, he could also be telling the same to himself. So I think, he would not say something like that)." Malacañang through Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and political adviser Gabriel Claudio earlier denied reports that TU would adopt Honasan. Senatorial candidates of the Genuine Opposition also did not express interest in having Honasan under its slate. “I can only wish Gringo good luck. Pero medyo late na…," said Panfilo “Ping" Lacson. - GMANews.TV