Mitos to Chiz: Don’t be an ingrate

MANILA, Philippines - United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Mitos Magsaysay advised Liberal Party (LP) senatorial candidate Francis Escudero not to be an ingrate.

Magsaysay warned Escudero that Filipino voters are not fond of people who are ungrateful and “political butterflies,” referring to a candidate who jumps from one political party to another.

“It is important that you know how to value gratitude. Loyalty is very important to the people. The people don’t want leaders and candidates who are jumping from one fence to another just because your support to them is no longer fashionable. You will never gain respect if you don’t value debt of gratitude,” she said.

She also hit Sen. Franklin Drilon and the LP’s campaign managers for underestimating UNA.

“They thought that because they belong to the administration party, everybody will toe their line,” Magsaysay said, adding that all the candidates of LP are merely capitalizing on the popularity of President Aquino.

“We never capitalize on any of the three UNA leaders. We are promoting UNA as a party, as a group. One of our advantages is that you will see in UNA leaders with wisdom and experience,” she said, referring to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

Individual campaign

Meanwhile, Binay’s spokesman said the nine UNA senatorial candidates will have to temporarily campaign individually from Friday to Monday after concluding their proclamation rally in Cebu and their campaign sorties in Bohol.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Joey Salgado said the UNA leadership is still finalizing its next leg of sorties in Pampanga, Bataan and nearby provinces in Luzon but the candidates are not taking a break.

“They will continue to campaign individually. They have their own schedules. We are still finalizing the schedule for Tuesday. So, between now (Friday) and Sunday, they will be on their own,” Salgado said.

He said Binay’s daughter Nancy, who is running for senator under UNA, will be busy in meetings and attending assemblies from Friday to Sunday and will be back in Cebu on Monday.

The Vice President, on the other hand, is also taking time out from the campaign to attend the annual Alumni Day and homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) today in Baguio City.

He will also award certificates of lot allocation to 742 families at the Baguio City Hall at noon today.       

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will also attend the event, which will be held at the PMA’s Borromeo Field in Fort Del Pilar. – With Jaime Laude