THE Genuine Opposition yesterday said the economic gains the Arroyo administration and its senatorial candidates have been bragging about are not felt by the majority of the people.

GO spokesman Adel Tamano cited a Social Weather Station Survey showing that "involuntary hunger" reached a six-year record of 19 percent in November.

He said the improved GNP and the vibrant trading in the market under the Arroyo government "are just mere numbers that do not translate into food on the people’s table and a roof over their head."

He said the strong anti-corruption stand of GO senatorial candidates and their fight for good governance, accountability and transparency are the real means to free the people from poverty.

"It’s very simple, our nation cannot reach its full economic potential if our leaders remain corrupt," Tamano said.

He said the Team-GMA’s "high-tech" approach of using projectors and audio-visual materials at meetings with local public officials to show the supposed economic gains further confirms the truth that the administration’s candidates have lost touch with the people.

"It is persistent levels of poverty and hunger that are the real issues," Tamano said. "These issues of poverty and hunger cannot be divorced from large-scale corruptions such as the Joc-Joc Bolante fertilizer fund scam which sap resources that could have been devoted to development."

Senate President Manuel Villar and majority leader Francis Pangilinan assured the GO, formerly called the Grand Coalition, they would campaign for the opposition’s candidates.

"I know my responsibilities, I would actively campaign for (the opposition) candidates. Lahat sila ay susuportahan ko," Villar said in Dagupan City where he kicked off his provincial sortie.

He will be in Baguio today as speaker at the alumni homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy. He is an adopted member of PMA Class ‘77.

Villar, head of the Nacionalista Party, and Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party-Drilon wing, were adopted by the opposition camp after they declared they would seek re-election as independent candidates.

Villar and Pangilinan are members of the Wednesday Group at the Senate. The two other members, Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto, are seeking re-election under the administration’s Team Unity.

Villar said while he would campaign for GO bets, he reserves his right to choose who to vote the May 14 elections.

"Isang boto lang naman ako," he said.

Pangilinan said the issue of loyalty to the opposition should be considered a "closed case" after he and Villar accepted their adoption by the opposition.

Doubts on Pangilinan’s loyalty followed his reported statement that he would "silently" campaign for Arroyo and Recto.

Pangilinan was only "joking" when he made the statement, UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said Thursday after meeting with Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said: "We agreed that there will be different forms of campaigning throughout the 90 days. Even Senator (Panfilo) Lacson has agreed to this publicly. I think that it’s best now to put this issue behind us."

Sen. Franklin Drilon said any misunderstanding between UNO and Pangilinan has already been ironed out.

Drilon also said Pangilinan has "expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the opposition for his inclusion as an adopted candidate."

He said they have agreed that Pangilinan would keep his independent stance on key issues of the campaign and "will speak up his mind as a true Liberal."

With the "official" adoption of Villar and Pangilinan, GO is now composed of LP, NP, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), PDP-Laban, Nationalist People’s Coalition and Aksyon Demokratiko.

Villar said he will attend the grand proclamation rally of the opposition scheduled on Feb. 24, the 21st anniversary of People Power I.

Villar on Thursday vowed to deliver the votes of Las Piñas to GO candidates, ending questions as to where his loyalty lies.

In the May 2004 elections, President Arroyo won only in Las Piñas among the 17 cities and towns of Metro Manila.

MISERABLE

The PMP headed by detained President Joseph Estrada said Malacañang has instructed local officials to "make campaigning miserable" for opposition bets as they gear up for their provincial sorties.

"Local officials have secretly confessed to us about the instruction from the Palace: ‘Don’t make it easy for them (opposition) to campaign,’" said Rufus Rodriguez, Estrada spokesman.

He said GO candidates, during their sortie in Bulacan Thursday, were forced to hold impromptu programs after local officials told them to be speed up their campaign pace lest they be charged for holding up traffic and disturbing peace and order.

"We dare Malacañang to face the opposition challenge head on and not resort to bullying and brazen squeeze job on local officials to hamper our campaign," he said.

Despite the difficulties however, Rodriguez said the warm reception GO candidates have been receiving so far "only proves that people are really desirous to see real, substantive and meaningful change to come out of this political exercise."

Barring major hitches, Rodriguez said they are set to barnstorm the Visayas next week.

The GO candidates are Lacson, Villar and Pangilinan; Congressmen Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Noynoy Aquino; former senators John Osmeña, Loren Legarda and Nikki Coseteng; lawyer Koko Pimentel; detained Magdalo leader Antonio Trillanes; and, Sonia Rocco, widow of senator Raul Roco. – JP Lopez