ROXAS CITY — Sen. Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III has been tapped
as new campaign manager of Genuine Opposition replacing San Juan Mayor Jose
Victor "JV" Ejercito who will concentrate on his re-election bid, sources at GO
said on Thursday.
Sources said the choice of Osmeña was finalized last Feb. 25,
a day after the GO’s proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda.
Osmeña will be formally named as campaign manager on Monday.
Osmeña, in a phone interview, said he is in the process of
mapping out plans for the campaign sorties.
Osmeña, a stalwart of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban,
is from vote-rich Cebu and a cousin of GO senatorial candidate John Osmeña.
He is a graduating senator, having served the Senate for
three terms.
"I’m very confident that the voters will choose more wisely.
But will the Comelec (Commission on Elections) count more wisely?" Osmeña said.
Ejercito said he was the one who recommended Osmeña.
"He will be effective in bringing the real issues to the
people," he said in a press conference hosted by Capiz Gov. Vic Bermejo and
Mayor Tony del Rosario of Roxas city.
He said Osmeña’s integrity is unquestioned.
"His character is liked by a lot of people. And most
especially he has the stature. I think he can help us in the Visayas and
Mindanao area," JV said.
GO spokesman Adel Tamano confirmed the choice of Osmeña but
said Ejercito will still play a major role in the campaign.
Tamano said the choice of Osmeña was reached after
consultations with the GO’s executive committee members and its coalition
partners.
Tamano denied reports that some GO candidates want Ejercito
out as they were not happy about how he handled the initial campaign strategy.
"It was just administration’s propaganda to discredit the
opposition," he said.
Tamano said Osmeña has all the qualities of an effective
campaign manager.
"This guy is a genius, he is a campaign strategist. His
qualifications and experience are beyond reproach," he said.
Re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who is in Baguio City,
said he is confident with the entry of Osmeña the campaign would switch to a
high gear.
MEDIA-HOPPING
GO candidates went media-hopping on the second day of their
campaign in Western Visayas.
Loren Legarda said although their proclamation rally in
Iloilo was cancelled, they found another form of campaigning by going to radio
stations.
"In that way, we can reach more people. We can relay our
programs to the people," she said.
Anna Dominique Coseteng, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III,
Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Sonia Roco went to Bombo Radio where they
talked on their platform of government.
The campaign sortie in Batangas on Saturday might be moved
from Lipa to Nasugbu after the camp of Vice Gov. Ricky Recto said it could not
gather 2,000 people for the event.
"Hindi nila masiguro, mas madali daw kung may artista," a GO
campaign official said.
The GO campaign team has required Recto to at gather 2,000
supporters as an indication of his political strength.
The official said an opposition mayoralty candidate has
assured 3,000 people for the Nasugbu sortie.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez laughed off claims by
Ejercito that there was a serious security threat that prompted the organizers
to cancel the rally Wednesday night at the Rotary amphitheater right in front of
the Iloilo provincial capitol.
"They had ghosts in that rally. I don’t know why they are
blaming me," he said.
Gonzalez said the real reason was local leaders were only
able to work up a "pitiful, marginal" crowd.
"They were just looking for an excuse," he said. – JP Lopez, Ashzel
Hachero, Dennis Gadil and Evangeline de Vera
