GO: Legitimacy, other
issues linked to economy

GENUINE Opposition (GO) spokesman Adel Tamano said they find unacceptable Team Unity’s stipulation that the debate among senatorial candidates be limited to economic issues to the exclusion of the scandals that have plagued the Arroyo administration.

"It’s unacceptable to us not to talk on human rights violations, corruption and the issue on legitimacy," Tamano said. "Aside from the gross national product, GDP, the issue on legitimacy is a very legitimate topic."

Tamano said issues such as poverty, hunger, criminality, corruption and lack of livelihood opportunities are fundamental concerns which have a direct bearing on the economy’s performance.

Tamano said the GO team is open to changing the venue as requested by the TU spokesman Tourism Secretary Ace Durano who suggested Manila Hotel instead of Plaza Miranda but added that he "disagrees completely" with Durano’s claim that holding the debate at Plaza Miranda would reduce the exercise to a mere "shouting match."

He stressed that the GO team and its supporters are mature enough to tolerate heckling and even insults from the TU camp. "This debate is for the benefit of the people, and we must hold it in a place where ordinary Filipinos converge, not in an upscale institution like the Manila Hotel, which is patronized by only a select few."

President Arroyo herself hinted in an interview yesterday that Plaza Miranda is fine with her. "Why not?" she said, but stressed that she is not interfering with the campaign and the decision is up to those handling the administration slate.

Last Wednesday, Tamano dared administration bet Sen. Ralph Recto to stand before the crowd at Plaza Miranda and "ask the people to vote for him because their lives have improved because of the RVAT [Revised Value-Added Tax]" which he sponsored in the Senate.

Tamano also challenged the whole administration slate to "look in the eye of the average Filipino" and claim that "the life of Juan dela Cruz has improved under the present administration."

President Arroyo, however, stressed that the economic gains being trumpeted by her allies are not myths but concrete and have already started to trickle down to the masses. She said lower power rates and lower LPG prices are a reality.