BY WENDELL VIGILIA

ADMINISTRATION senatorial candidate Michael Defensor yesterday said bickering among supporters of President Arroyo in the provinces is adversely affecting the campaign of Team Unity.

Defensor urged the administration’s arbitration committee composed of representatives from Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the Liberal Party (LP) Atienza-wing to immediately find a "win-win solution" to avoid a split among local allies.

On Tuesday, President Arroyo and Team Unity had to attend separate gatherings hosted by rivals Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid and Lilia Pineda, wife of alleged gambling lord Rodolfo Pineda.

Defensor said he believes the Kapampangans would heed President Arroyo’s appeal to support the entire Team Unity ticket and set aside the infighting of local administration leaders.

Team Unity will be campaigning in Pangasinan today and in Baguio on Sunday.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, head of Lakas, is facing a challenge from Dagupan Mayor Benjie Lim of Kampi in his reelection run.

Kampi, headed by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, is said to be controlled by presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo.