‘LP not pressuring local execs vs inviting Grace, Chiz’

MANILA, Philippines - Stalwarts of the ruling Liberal Party yesterday denied accusations that the LP was pressuring local officials against inviting presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe and her running mate Sen. Francis Escudero in their provincial sorties.

Poe and Escudero earlier slammed the LP for allegedly causing them to be “dis-invited” to the celebration of Tawi-Tawi’s founding anniversary on Sunday.

The two senators claimed the invitation was withdrawn for political reasons.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the LP would not do such a thing.

“I don’t believe LP applied pressure. To me it’s up to the locals,” he said. 

Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal said the LP does not need to exert extra effort to improve the rating of its presidential bet Manuel Roxas II.

He said Poe and Escudero are both strong and popular, but not unbeatable, as recent surveys suggest.

“This early in the game, Mar Roxas is already in a statistical tie with them. In the coming months, I think more people will appreciate and value Mar’s integrity and loyalty to our country,” Banal said.

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz said the LP would not hesitate to use every means to gain advantage over its political rivals.

“If true that the same was instigated by the LP, it just shows that it will not hesitate to use every means fair or foul to gain advantage this early in the game,” he said.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello said the incident is a clear sign that the LP is in panic mode.

“They resort to foul tactics just to get their candidate some votes,” Bello said. 

Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting said similar incidents happened to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also running for president under the United Nationalist Alliance.