Thus opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. rejected another challenge by President Arroyo for a debate, this time focusing on Negros Occidental’s main industry — sugar.
"Puro salita lang yun. Magtrabaho na lang tayo (It’s all talk. Let’s just work instead)" he said, reacting to Mrs. Arroyo’s challenge aired over local radio station dyEZ last week.
Poe appeared in five campaign rallies of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) in different parts of the province over the weekend.
Poe expressed his gratitude for the show of support given to him by provincial officials led by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, who was able to convince Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, 15 mayors, three congressmen, including his brother, Rep. Alfredo Marañon, and seven provincial board members to join him in shifting support from the Lakas-CMD coalition to the KNP.
Poe’s wife, actress Susan Roces, a Negrense, said the support for her husband was heartwarming and helped boost his confidence.
With Marañon’s support, Poe said they will be able to turn the tide in the province. But he added there is still a need to double their campaign in areas where he is considered not strong.
Before the Marañons shifted their support, Sen. Vicente Sotto, Poe’s campaign spokesman, admitted that the opposition standard bearer was weak in Western Visayas, among other areas.
Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda said Mrs. Arroyo can no longer claim that Negros is her stronghold. "It collapsed with the defection of the Negros officials," he said.
Negros Occidental has the third biggest voting population with 1.4 million voters.
Meanwhile, Poe said he has not spoken with Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) founder Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., adding that the last time he saw the ambassador was before he announced his candidacy.
He, however, said there is a strong perception that while Cojuangco has been silent, the NPC leader is rooting for him.
"Hopefully, it is true," he said.
Maceda said Cojuangco has been non-committal, adding though that "nobody does anything in the NPC without a clearance from (him)."
The Marañons and majority of the local officials who bolted the Lakas-CMD coalition belong to the United Negros Alliance, a local party allied with the NPC.