Honasan to go on 'high-intensity campaign'

With only three weeks before the election day, newly-freed independent senatorial candidate Gregorio Honasan will launch a "high-intensity campaign" to reach out to the electorate. In an interview with GMA News on Saturday, Honasan said he would let his children rest in the meantime, as they had already done a good job standing in for him in the campaign sorties while he was detained at Fort Sto Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. He said his children and supporters allowed him to remain on top of the surveys despite his detention. He admitted that he lack the resources needed, but support and assistance from different sectors keep coming in to sustain his campaign. But he remained confident that he would make it to the so-called "Magic 12." "Alam ninyo malaki ang hahabulin ko. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa mga Pilipinong nagtitiyaga at nagsisikap para ikampanya ako (I have much catching up to do. But I thank Filipinos who continued to support me and helped campaign for me when I was in prison)," Honasan said in an interview earlier on Saturday on dzRH radio. In a phone interview on Saturday evening, Honasan’s lawyer Vic Lansang said they would try to make effective use of remaining campaign period to let the voters know the senatorial candidate better. According to Lansang, Honasan was still adjusting to his temporary freedom. “Nababaguhan pa siya pero in the next few days we believe makaka-adjust na siya," Lansang said. Honasan spent five months in confinement at a tightly secured facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna following his arrest over coup d' etat charges on Nov. 15 last year. A Makati court allowed him to post bail Friday. Honasan was reunited with his family in Marikina late Friday night after his lawyer posted bail. Honasan said he was "in high spirits" a day after the court granted his temporary liberty. He said if there is one good result of his detention, it is unifying the people to advance one goal, which is to fight poverty and hunger. He said he is ready to help the present administration, depending on the policy, and correct the mistakes through peaceful and legal means. - AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV