Villar unfazed by LP tack of following NP in sorties

TIWI, Albay , Philippines  – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar remains unfazed by the alleged campaign strategy of the Liberal Party (LP) which is to follow the NP in its provincial sorties.

“Initially I thought it was just coincidental, but now it seems that it has become their strategy to go wherever I go,” Villar said during an interview here.

Villar described the LP’s strategy “as a sign of insecurity.” 

“Normally, the leader is the one being followed. All they focus on is to follow our lead,” Villar said.

“This does not bother me. I don’t think our crowd will be dissuaded by that. That’s part of the strategy,” he added.

This developed as LP sent television host and actress Kris Aquino-Yap and her entire family to represent her elder brother, LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in a speaking engagement here.

“I am here for political (reasons). I am representing Noy today,” Kris told The STAR before she and her entourage disembarked from a PAL Express flight at the Naga airport yesterday.

Kris was accompanied by her husband, basketball star James Yap, their son Baby James and Joshua, Kris’ son with former partner Philip Salvador, and a number of the actress’ assistants.

Kris’ party arrived around 11 a.m. at the Naga airport as Villar and his team arrived around noon at the Legaspi airport aboard a private plane. 

From the airport, Villar and his team went radio-hopping – at the Bombo Radyo; People’s Broadcasting Network; RMN-affiliate dzRZ and MOR, an FM radio affiliate of ABS-CBN before going on a market tour.

Villar and some of his senatorial candidates including Susan Ople, Liza Maza and Martin Querubin (representing his detained father Col. Ariel Querubin) went around Bicol Region, starting from Legaspi City in Albay yesterday. They also went to the public markets in Tiwi and Tabaco in the afternoon.

The NP will have a Rockatropa-Wowowee concert tonight in Naga City. Boxing champ Manny Paquiao is expected to join stars led by TV host Willie Revillame in the entertainment-cum-political rally at the Freedom Stadium at the Camsur Water Sports Complex.