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Loren to skip LP, UNA proclamation rallies to be with father


Senator Loren Legarda, who is seeking re-election in the May elections, will be skipping the proclamation rallies of both the Liberal Party (LP) and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). In an interview with GMA News Online on Tuesday, Legarda said her father will be celebrating his 80th birthday on February 12, the scheduled day of the proclamation rallies. "Eightieth birthday ng tatay ko, sa tingin mo ba iiwan ko 80th birthday ng tatay ko? Papaano ba naman 'yun?" she said. LP and UNA have been on a tug of war over the rights to common candidates Legarda, Senator Francis Escudero, and Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Legarda and Escudero have consistently been topping the senatorial surveys for the 2013 polls. The Aquino-led LP and UNA of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada will both be holding their proclamation rallies on February 12, with LP in Manila and UNA in Cebu. Legarda, however, said that her decision not to attend the rallies should not be seen as a way to avoid any controversy. "Eighty years ago nangyari 'yung birthday ng tatay ko, hindi iwas [ito]," she said. "Paano ko iiwan [tatay ko], wala na ang mama ko [at] ako [ang] tumatayong mama sa pamilya?" she added. She also said has yet to see the invitation from the two parties. Where are the invitations? In a separate interview, Escudero confirmed that they have yet to receive any formal invitation from LP and UNA. "Yung pormal na imbitasyon na hindi pa namin natatanggap mula sa LP o mula sa UNA. Hangga't hindi namin natatanggap nang opisyal 'yun imibitasyon paano naman kami magde-desisyon?" he said. He added: "Ayokong pangunahan ang anumang usapan o usapin kaugnay niyan." But he noted that giving equal time to the two parties should not be an issue. "Kahit naman 'yung sarili nilang mga ikot at sortie hindi naman lahat ng kandidato nila mismo sumasama, so I don't think it will be a major issue in the campaign," Escudero said. He also said he remains an independent candidate who is free to do what he wants to do. — KBK, GMA News

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