Alvarez gets anti-Hehe memo from K-4 aides

It was supposed to be a "top-secret" memo for key strategists of the administration’s Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) on how to counter the public grousing of Heherson Alvarez, President Arroyo’s former adviser on overseas Filipino communities.

The instructions were to make it appear that Alvarez had been expressing a personal opinion, and that Mrs. Arroyo understood his feelings.

However, the memo points out that the acts and comments of Alvarez show that "he is no longer the professional party spokesman but his own," and that "he should be replaced by Lakas immediately."

Inadvertently, clerks at K-4 headquarters sent a copy of the memo by fax to Alvarez since he was the national spokesman for the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), one of the parties comprising the K-4.

Alvarez’s office immediately issued a statement detailing the comedy of errors.

"The hatchet men of President Arroyo’s K-4 have started training their guns on former senator Heherson Alvarez in the wake of the publicity he has been getting following his displacement from the Lakas senatorial lineup by stalwarts of the deposed Estrada regime," the statement said.

"Apparently the clerks at the K-4 headquarters or wherever the memo came from were not aware of current developments between Alvarez and K-4 and sent Alvarez a copy of the memo in his capacity as Lakas spokesman," it said.

Dated yesterday, the supposedly top-secret memo was quoted in the statement as having said, "A confidential/no copies/do not distribute memo intended for key strategists of K-4 expressed alarm over the big space media was giving to "Alvarez’ sourgraping."

The statement said the memo "proposed official response and special action" on a summary of political stories in major newspapers yesterday.

"The media is giving big space to one man — Alvarez lambasting PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) herself and projecting dissension in K-4 ranks," the statement quoted the memo.

"Let spokespersons from the different groups making up the K-4 juggernaut handle the brickbats instead of letting PGMA handle it herself.

"This problem should be resolved as soon as possible; the opposition is starting to capitalize on Alvarez’s sourgraping. This is just a misunderstanding that would be patched up in due time. There are no disagreements in platform or substance," it added.

The statement quoted the memo as saying that an effort must be made to fuse the administration’s accomplishments and platform with K-4 so that it will acquire a consolidated image.

"There is a need to set K-4 apart from the political bickering and factionalism that form the core of the media agenda, the memo said.

Despite being left out of the administration’s senatorial ticket, Alvarez said he is "not burning his bridges" with Mrs. Arroyo and Lakas-CMD.

However, he said he will wait until tomorrow before deciding whether he would seek another political affiliation to pursue his bid for the Senate.

"The administration is asking me to hold back (making a major decision) and perhaps I will await until Friday," he said.

Alvarez said he does not have to resign from Lakas-CMD just because he had already filed his certificate of candidacy as an independent and criticized Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to include Estrada allies in the K-4 senatorial ticket.

"I want President Arroyo to be a better political leader," he said. "When I said that she was being wishy-washy, I was referring to her being unable to make up her mind on what political position to take on some issues."

Alvarez belittled Malacanang’s offer that he be named secretary of tourism should he decide against running for the Senate.

"It is not a matter of being appointed to a Cabinet position," he said. "What is important is the principles and policies being shaped by the party and the President in relation to this elections."

He was giving in to Malacanang’s appeal for him not to leave the party and refrain from making a drastic decision regarding his candidacy at least until the weekend, Alvarez added.

Alvarez, who was offended by his exclusion from the K-4 senatorial lineup, said he had initial talks with presidential candidate Raul Roco on the possibility of him being adopted by Roco’s party in case he will not make it to the administration ticket.

Alvarez denied reports that he appealed to ousted President Joseph Estrada to have his name included in the senatorial ticket of action star Fernando Poe Jr.

"That will be the last thing I will ever think of doing," he said.

Estrada’s "spin doctors" peddled the misinformation that he sent emissaries to the headquarters of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino to negotiate his inclusion in the senatorial lineup of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino hours before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy on Monday, he added.

Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles said Alvarez has proven to be a "major disappointment" following his attacks on the pro-administration coalition.

"Sonny is a friend from the street parliament days," he said. "But obviously his personal ambition has blurred his vision. His sour graping is not good for his image, the party and the coalition, and even the country."

Nograles said Alvarez has reversed course because of a personal agenda, after defending Mrs. Arroyo for more than two years on television.

"After he was axed from the coalition’s senatorial lineup, he now claims the President, his political patron, lacks vision," he said.

On the other hand, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said he was also victim of the "poison pen and mouth" of Alvarez as Lakas-CMD spokesman.

"As party spokesman, he should exemplify real statesmanship by respecting the coalition’s choice of its senatorial slate," he said.

"His subsequent actions of attempting to negotiate with former President Estrada for inclusion in the opposition’s senatorial lineup, and his attacks against the President and his own party only prove that he is unfit to be part of the K-4 coalition ticket."

Pateros-Taguig Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano said Alvarez should support Mrs. Arroyo instead of "sour graping" after he did not get what he wanted.

"Party members like him should get to know the meaning of sacrifice and greater good," he said.

Last Tuesday, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., co-chairman of the Lakas-CMD, said the President offered the tourism portfolio to Alvarez.

De Venecia said Lakas-CMD fielded former education undersecretary Nestor Kalaw to "warm" the 12th slot in its senatorial lineup pending the final decision on whether Alvarez or Miriam Defensor-Santiago would fill it up.

De Venecia hinted that Santiago was the preferred choice for the 12th Senate slot, but he appealed to Alvarez not to leave the party.

Alvarez had accused Mrs. Arroyo of "exercising too much pragmatism" and giving up "excessive concessions" to the opposition in the name of political reconciliation.

He deplored that the inclusion of Osmeña, Santiago, and Orlando Mercado — whom he described as Estrada allies — in the administration ticket would "go against the spirit of EDSA Dos which brought this administration to power."

Alvarez had filed his certificate of candidacy as an independent late Monday. — With Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva