Campaign war turns to name calling

DAVAO CITY— What’s your name again?

The administration Team Unity twitted the opposition by claiming it is suffering from an identity crisis when it recently renamed itself as the "Genuine Opposition."

Team Unity campaign manager Reli German said the opposition tried many times to repackage itself by changing names to make it more appealing.

"They could not even agree on one name. They keep changing their name. So, how can you say they are solid and one as a group?" German asked.

He said Team Unity has kept the same designation since a few months back as against the opposition whose problem is how to appear united.

"First the opposition said their name was UNO (United Opposition) and then they changed it to ‘Grand Alliance’ and now to Genuine Opposition."

"They had ‘Grand Alliance’ which could also be ‘Grand Alliance of Genuine Oppositionists,’ whatever it means. And what are they now? They could not even agree on one name," German said.

German who once served as the campaign manager of former President Joseph Estrada, suggested to the opposition to retain the Grand Alliance and merge it with their new name Genuine Opposition and repackage their image as "Grand Alliance of the Genuine Opposition," which acronym suggests one lacking in gray matter.

The newly named Genuine Opposition (GO) criticized the administration coalition saying its senatorial lineup should be renamed "Team Disunity" following the replacement of Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla by actor Cesar Montano.

GO spokesman Adel Tamano and opposition candidate Panfilo Lacson said Montano’s coming in to replace Petilla is an indication that several changes will be made further.

Petilla pulled out from the race in the last minute to seek reelection in his province.

By tapping Montano as a last minute replacement, Lacson described Team Unity as having "no unity. It was too hastily assembled."

Tamano said the opposition is sad for Montano because he allowed himself to be used by politicians for the May elections.

He noted that the administration is keen on "utilizing" popular figures like boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in a bid to gather more votes.