Gabriela slams Loi’s senatorial bid

The militant women’s group Gabriela denounced yesterday the Senate bid of former First Lady Dr. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, saying she is also tainted by charges of corruption.

Gabriela secretary general Liza Maza said Ejercito has no business aspiring for a Senate seat "if she cannot prove that her loyalty is to the Filipino people and not to her philandering husband."

"If Dr. Loi wants to serve the people, the first thing she needs to do is come out clean," Maza said.

The Gabriela leader noted that the former first lady still has a lot to explain about her alleged involvement in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund scandal as well as a bank account containing money from illegal gambling lords.

Maza lamented that the women have been misrepresented enough in the Senate.

"Our lady senators have been blinded by their distorted sense of loyalty to Erap," she said, obviously referring to Senators Miriam Santiago, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Nikki Coseteng, who all voted to suppress bank documents believed to link ousted President Joseph Estrada to hidden wealth.

Ejercito, who beat the midnight deadline for filing a certificate of candidacy for the May polls last Feb. 12, will lead the senatorial ticket of the opposition coalition.

Her candidacy was endorsed by the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) headed by Edgardo Angara, erstwhile executive secretary of her husband. The other opposition bets are former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, re-electionist Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan, broadcast journalist Noli de Castro, former Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr., former presidential assistant on children’s affairs Jamby Madrigal, former Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson and Muslim leader Ombra Tamano.

Gabriela also lashed out at the other senatorial candidates who enjoyed close ties with the deposed President.

"It is disgusting to see the shamelessness of these people. Erap did not govern alone. The likes of Angara, Puno, Mercado and Lacson were part of the Erap gang that made the people’s lives miserable for more than two years. People Power 2 ousted not only Erap but all the evil associated with him, including his unrepentant Cabinet," the group said in a statement.

Gabriela appealed to the Filipino people not to vote for candidates who were part of the Estrada administration.

"Rather than be called Puwersa ng Masa (Force of the Masses), the opposition should be called Inetsa-Puwera ng Masa (Shunted aside by the Masses)," Gabriela said.