Presidential bets to forge pact vs use of gov’t funds in polls

ZAMBOANGITA, Negros Oriental — Presidential contenders will sign next week a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to fight the use of government funds in the election, Alyansa ng Pag-Asa standard-bearer Raul Roco said here yesterday.

Roco refused to identify the people responsible for the covenant but said it is meant to stop the use of public money to boost an incumbent’s candidacy.

"From what I know, all the four other parties have already agreed in principle (to sign the accord)," Roco said. "If we cannot stop the misuse of public funds in this election, then it will become a cycle."

While the MOA seems to be intended for President Arroyo, who has been accused of misusing public funds to boost her candidacy, the President has also been invited to the MOA signing.

"We will invite even President Arroyo if she means what she is talking about," Roco said. "We will invite all parties to (the MOA signing, though) that’s not even my initiative, to sign an initiative to fight the misuse of public funds."

Roco claimed there is a "whole appendix" of public money that is being used in the election campaigns of some candidates for elective posts.

"There is a whole list and we’ll even sign an agreement," he said. If the President "is willing to sign that, then, well and good. Then we will know where her heart is."

"I hope that pushes through," he said. "It’s something all the presidential candidates, including President Arroyo, should be concerned with. I think (Koalisyon ng Nagkaka-kisang Pilipino standard-bearer) Fernando Poe Jr. has a representative, even (independent presidential candidate) Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Brother Eddie Villanueva have their representatives."

Roco expressed confidence that the accord will "spiral down to the local government level to ensure that public money is properly dispensed."

"Unless we can stop misuse of public funds during the campaign, then we shall repeat the continued misuse of public funds during the governance," he added.

But, even as the President is invited tot he MOA signing, Roco called on her anew to withdraw from the presidential derby.

"She should not be a candidate," he said. "Let her be president. Let her give us an honest election. Let her give us unity. Let her give attention to the economic situation of the country. We need a full-time president today."

Roco criticized the President for using a campaign strategy that "overloads" the voting public "with money. She is trying to repeat what (former President) Marcos did in 1969, (where) Marcos used every peso of the Philippines for campaigning."

Roco added that since the government is now running on a huge deficit, "the President is now being suspected (of) raising funds from people abroad, including Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho."

Roco aired these suspicions after receiving information that Ho went to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and left the CSEZ "surreptitiously" last week.

"The Stanley Ho incident brings to a complete cycle the ouster of (former President Joseph) Estrada," he said. Estrada’s ouster, he said "started with Stanley Ho."

Public attention was brought to focus on Ho in 1999, when he towed his Jumbo Floating Restaurant from Hong Kong to Manila Bay. The brief stay of Ho’s restaurant caused an uproar because it also operated a casino.

The Macau mogul was also supposed to invest in the Best World Gaming Corp. controlled by Estrada ally Dante Tan. This planned investment also met with widespread protest.

Ho reportedly arrived at the CSEZ Wednesday to attend a conferment exercise of the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga.

There are suspicions that Ho and the President met at the CSEZ because their visits to Clark coincided.

Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Angeles said the President arrived at Clark Wednesday, contrary to Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye’s statement that the Chief Executive was in Clark Thursday.

In another development, Roco said he had to change his wardrobe because he lost 15 pounds and two inches from his waistline measurement since the start of the national campaign period on Feb. 10.

From 43 inches, Roco’s waistline was trimmed down ot 41 inches and the presidential candidate has since had to buy a new wardrobe, which includes 18 new pairs of pants and 18 Hawaiian floral-print polo shirts in a smaller size.

"I am very healthy, thank you very much," Roco said. "I feel better. Now I have 18 new shirts and 18 new pairs of pants — six blue pants, six khaki(s) and six denims and then a variation of flora (polo shirts)."

Roco said campaigning around the provinces and in Metro Manila has brought his weight down from 210 pounds to 195 pounds.

While Roco said he makes up for the fatigue caused by campaigning by "sleeping well," he added that he tends to lose his appetite when he is tired. Roco said he also avoid vitamins, because they give him constipation.

During their campaign swing through Negros Oriental, the Alyansa ng Pag-Asa candidates toured public markets and shook hands with vendors and customers.

They toured the towns of Zamboanguita, Bayawan, Sibulan, Amlan, Bacog, Siaton and Mabinay, as well as the cities of Dumaguete and Bais.