THE United Nationalist Alliance on Monday slammed Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for saying the local party leaders in Bicol had abandoned the presidential bid of Vice President Jojo Binay.
“Maybe Salceda made the false media statement in a desperate effort to gain recognition from his newfound group after bolting the Liberal Party the other day,” said JV Bautista, UNA secretary general.
Bautista said Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee, UNA Region 5 chairman and Sorsogon provincial coordinator, had assured party leaders that he continued to support the candidacy of Binay and the other UNA stalwarts of Bicol.
Lee aside, he said, Binay also had the support of Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado, Rep. Wimpy Fuentebella of Camarines Sur and former Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua, who is seeking his old post. Rep. Fuentebella’s brother, Tigaon Mayor Arnulf Fuentebella, is UNA candidate for governor in Camarines Sur. Tallado himself informed a party official that there was no truth to Salceda’s claim.
Lee said he had already denied the report to local newsmen in Bicol.
“It is true that Governor Salceda approached me and some UNA leaders in the Region offering some concessions, but the offer was rejected as we maintain our belief that Vice President Binay is the most prepared and competent candidate to become the next President,” Lee said.
“If it is true that I and fellow UNA leaders in Bicol have changed camps, Governor Salceda is not the right person to make a public announcement. It should be me and my party mates who will call a press conference or issue a formal statement.”
Bautista called on Binay’s supporters not to easily believe the misinformation coming from other political groups. He said in Albay alone, UNA had a good number of mayoralty candidates in addition to the incumbent mayors of sister towns and cities of Makati City who had pledged support for Binay.