Las Piñas bet seeks a stop to ‘politics of intimidation’

Las Piñas congressional bet Tony Tamayo challenged yesterday his political rival to immediately stop her "campaign of terror" against his leaders and supporters through continued harassment and other hostile actions that may create an environment conducive to violence.

Tamayo issued the call amid mounting reports from his followers that their homes and movements are constantly being monitored by tough-looking men aboard owner-type jeeps.

The "surveillance," conducted by unidentified men in dark glasses, was noted after Tamayo’s men who were also members of the "Kaibigan ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo" (KGMA) were attacked and prevented by overzealous tough-looking men, believed to be from Cynthia Villar’s camp, from attending the awarding of certificates of land allocations by President Arroyo at Barangay BF/CAA last week.

Tamayo appealed to the Villar camp to immediately admonish her people from aggressively pursuing their politics of intimidation "whose obvious intention is to scare my supporters and discourage them from attending my rallies and caucuses and subsequently from actively campaigning for me."

Tamayo decried the tearing and vandalizing of his posters and other campaign materials by organized teams of people, including children. The vandals are reportedly paid according to the number of posters and streamers they have destroyed and tore down.

Meantime, Tamayo also called on some subdivision associations and barangay chairmen to be fair in the wake of reports that his mobile roving teams are not being allowed to enter some subdivisions and barangays while Villar propaganda vehicles, with her campaign jingle blaring, can come go as they please.