Although they are considered as common candidates of the two major coalitions in the 2013 polls, former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chief Grace Poe-Llamazares and re-electionist Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda will not appear in political advertisements of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
At a press conference Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, one of the administration’s campaign spokesmen, said the three common candidates already had an agreement with the ruling Liberal Party (LP)’s leadership not to join UNA’s campaign.
“I think that has already been answered. We will not allow the three common candidates in UNA’s political ads. This has been clear. Kung lalabas kayo dito sa ad namin, dapat dito lang,” Tañada said.
Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, another administration campaign spokesman, meanwhile said that Poe, Escudero and Legarda were not barred to appear in UNA’s ads, but the three consented in campaigning only with the administration slate.
“All the candidates are mature enough to make decisions. It’s not a matter na may pinagbawalan o hindi, but there was a specific agreement among mature political leaders na we need to be consistent on the message,” Quimbo said at the same press briefing.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, LP secretary-general, earlier said that President Benigno Aquino III himself asked Legarda not to join UNA sorties.
Abaya said the three common candidates were asked to campaign exclusively with the administration slate so as not to “confuse” voters on their allegiances. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News
