Arroyo proclaims ‘Unity’ bets in Cebu amid ‘Boom Tarat Tarat’ blare

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo belted out anew a rendition of “Boom Tarat Tarat" campaign jingle of one of her senatorial candidates as she promised more projects for Cebu during the Team Unity proclamation rally Saturday in the province. Radio station DZBB reported Mrs Arroyo personally asked the support of Cebuanos as she endorsed the 12 members of Team Unity. In her speech, spoken in Cebuano, she reiterated her gratitude to the province where she got the most votes during the 2004 presidential election. She also thanked the Cebuanos for hosting the Malacañang sa Sugbu, the presidential house in the province, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Mrs Arroyo presented the administration’s senatorial candidates with their slogans: Edgardo Angara, Ang Gara ng Buhay; Joker Arroyo, People’s dragon, Kung Bad ka Lagot ka, haligi ng hustisya at demokrasya; Mike Defensor, Tagapagtanggol ng Kabataan; Vic Magsaysay, Kampiyon sa Local Government. He also endorsed Cesar Montano as promoter of culture and tourism; Tessie Aquino Oreta as champion of women and students; Prospero Pichay as champion of agribusiness; Ralph Recto, partner in fiscal crisis; Luis "Chavit" Singson, champion of local government; Vicente Sotto; Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, representative of the Muslim people; and Juan Miguel Zubiri, whose jingle “Boom Tarat Tarat" she sang. Oreta and Singson agreed to bury the hatchet over issues surrounding the 2000 Senate impeachment trial of then President Estrada. In the October 2000 impeachment trial, Oreta was tagged as the "Balato Queen" after Singson accused her of receiving a share of P1 million from Estrada's winnings in mahjong. Singon and Oreta said they are ready to forget any conflict that arose from the past. They said what is important now is for Team Unity to win in the elections. Shouts and cheers of people at the Cebu coliseum in Sanciangko street, estimated at 18,000, grew louder when Montano came up the stage. Montano roared the crowd when he urged them "arya" (let's move)." But he made a misktake when he acknowledged Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia as Gwen Garci. The Genuine Opposition meanwhile trailed towns and cities of Rizal province on Saturday, the fifth day of the senatorial campaign for the May 14 elections. The trail was led by Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Loren Legarda, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, John Osmeña, Sonia Roco and Francis Escudero. Opposition runners continued to be critical of the Arroyo administration. Lacson predicted Team Unity would further change its senatorial lineup after Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla was replaced by Montano. Lacson said Team Unity's slate is weak because the administration was only forced to have a senatorial lineup for the election after Charter change (Cha-cha) was defeated at the Supreme Court in late October last year. The abolition of the Senate was one of the proposals pushed by the Arroyo administration through the overhaul of the 1987 Constitution. Escudero jokingly said that "it was clear that Buboy (Montano) is the most handsome" of all Team Unity's senatorial candidates. Manuel Villar Jr., an independent candidate, adopted by the opposition, graced the Philippine Military Academy's alumni homecoming in Baguio City on Saturday. Villar also criticized the administration's stubborn push for Cha-cha. Senatorial candidates Gregorio Honasan and Navy Lt. SG Antonio Trillanes remain in their respective detention cells. The two were not allowed to campaign. Nobody at the PMA homecoming dared to campaign for Honasan and Trillanes, both PMA alumni. In another development, residents of Brgy. Malipay, Bacoor Cavite decried the resettlement in their area of some 7,000 families from Paranaque. They accused that the squatters of Paranaque will become "flying" voters for Bacoor Mayor Jessie Castillo. Castillo dismissed the accusation and said that those unfounded issues "are not worth giving attention to".- GMANews.TV