Lakas says all political parties have funding problems

MANILA, Philippines - All political parties have problems with funding, according to the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

In an interview, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Lakas-Kampi – CMD vice chairman, no party taking part in the May 10 elections is without problems in campaign funds.

Puno, a political strategist, said in every election that he had joined, political parties have always complained of funding problems, adding that lakas should not be singled out on the funding issue.

Puno said the Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party should also be asked about their funds.

“Don’t ask their spokesman, ask their candidates and they will surely have their own problems,” he said in Filipino.

Puno said he was not trying to restrict the campaign funds given out to candidates.

“Times are hard, even the government has lower tax collections,” he added.

“Lower tax collections mean businessmen have less money, so we’re having difficulty soliciting contributions from the business sector.”

Meantime, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, told voters yesterday to be wary of empty promises of candidates. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan