Roco to GMA: Either work or campaign full time

Former education secretary and presidential aspirant Raul Roco said yesterday President Arroyo should take a leave of absence and concentrate in her political campaign for the May 2004 elections if she cannot perform her duty as "full-time President."

"Please be full-time President or full time candidate... our country needs leadership," Roco said yesterday.

He clarified he is not asking Mrs. Arroyo to resign but to take a leave of absence since she cannot focus her attention in solving the country’s pressing economic problems.

Roco said Mrs. Arroyo should allow the Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. to run the government since he has already announced his disinterest in seeking political office next year.

"Be full time President or give it to Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. as caretaker of the government because we cannot survive six months of this," he said.

"Let him (Guingona) worry about the clean and honest elections. Let him worry about the kidnapping so that you can focus on your priorities," Roco stressed. "There is no part-time president."

Roco told a crowd of supporters in Baguio City that he is confident he will emerge the strongest candidate in the 2004 presidential race.

The former senator simply said no other candidate is strong enough to muzzle the Filipino electorate who have become "more intelligent voters now."

"The Filipino people cannot be bought," Roco said, adding "the people have a future and they have that to protect."

Roco said "the Filipino people must think first where his contenders get their billions of war chest for their campaign."

He also announced that on Nov. 31, his political party, the Aksyon Demokratiko ,will convene to finally choose the party’s vice presidential bet and its senatorial slate.

Roco said Probinsiya Muna Development Initiatives (Promdi) party chief Lito Osmeña is one of those being considered, apparently failing to mention his new coalition partner, former defense secretary Renato de Villa of Reporma.

Aksyon officials said those who are also considered to be Roco’s running mate are Sen. Manuel Villar of the People Power Coalition (PPC), former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay, former presidential daughter Cristy Ramos-Jalasco, former Pangasinan governor Oscar Orbos and police general Romeo Maganto.

Roco said the final slate will be decided by the end of this month.

Roco recently bolted the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) and Mrs. Arroyo for the breakup of the ruling political coalition.

He blamed Mrs. Arroyo for abandoning the ideals of the PPC when she went on her own and announced her candidacy in the 2004 presidential elections.

Aksyon Demokratiko formed part of the PPC in the aftermath of the EDSA II revolt that deposed President Joseph Estrada and catapulted Mrs. Arroyo to the presidency in January 2001.

Aksyon then forged a political alliance with former PPC member parties – Reporma and Promdi – to form a "third force" in the political scenery for the May 2004 general elections.