What does anyone owe us?

The victory of Lakas-CMD and its allies in the House of Representatives, provinces, cities and towns all over the country is a vote of confidence in the administration of President Arroyo, a ranking party official said yesterday.

Former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, national spokesman of the Lakas-CMD party told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulu Hotel forum in Quezon city that of yesterday, at least 185 out of the 214 congressional seats, 54 gubernatorial post, and majority of cities and municipal executive posts been captured by Lakas-CMD and its allies in the recently concluded midterm elections.

“The victory of the Lakas-CMD and its allies is a fresh mandate for President Arroyo,” he said.

Alvarez explained that the lead of the Genuine Opposition candidates in the senatorial line up could be attributed to the individual candidates who were already popular even before they filed their candidacy.

He said in the case of Sen. Loren Legarda, even if she runs with the administration party, she will still be number one because she has attained the “superstar status.”

In the case of Honasan and Trillanes, he said they have also attained the image of “folk heroes.”

Alvarez, however, said that the vote for local executives, and congressmen is the actual gauge of popularity of the President among the people in the countryside.

As to the ongoing protest among losing candidates, the former senator said that has been part of the political landscape in the Philippines for the past several decades.

“What we are witnessing indicates that democracy is alive and kicking,” he said.

Alvarez also said he that with the fresh mandate, President Arroyo will focus her attention in pursuing her economic agenda in the next three years.

He also ruled out the possibility of Charter change because it will disrupt the implementation of the developments in various parts of the country. – Perseus Echeminada