Rift not hurting ANAD's reelection bid - Alcover

CEBU, Philippines - Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist Rep. Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. has downplayed rumors that the rift between him and former customs collector David Odilao is affecting their chances of winning.

Alcover believes that whatever misunderstanding between him and Odilao will not affect Anad’s chances of reelection because the people are already aware of its existence as a partylist.

Alcover, who visited yesterday some barangays in the northern Cebu, said that their group remains intact to face the coming elections. He said that their problem with Odilao is only minor.

 “Wala gayud kita mabalaka sa kadaut nga possible nga mahimo gumikan sa mga binuang ni Odilao,” said Alcover.

Alcover is optimistic that the Commission on Elections in Manila will act favorably on their petition seeking an order to declare as void, no legal force and effect the second set of nominees of ANAD which Odilao has submitted.

In the petition dated April 28, 2010 signed by Lawyer Rolando Cipriano, ANAD Partylist described the second set of nominees as a product of an illegal act of a group skillfully orchestrated by Odilao because he wanted to be the first nominee.

According to Cipriano, Odilao, the first in the second set of nominees, was already expelled from the pro-democracy organization as contained in a unanimously approved resolution during ANAD’s National Council Meeting held last February 14.

Aside from Odilao, Paul Gabunales, ANAD’s Vice President for Luzon, and Ferdie Maigue, a staff of Alcover, were likewise expelled from the organization for grounds of insubordination, abandonment of duties, misfeasance and malfeasance in their respective services.

Cipriano said all this constitute acts inimical to the best interest of the pro-democracy alliance.

The petition further said that ANAD records showed that the other nominees like Loeborio Jangao, Alexander Canonigo, Bernard Mabbagu, and Hermigildo Gonzaga are not in its official roster of members thus are not part of the organization. - THE FREEMAN