RIYADH, 27 March 2004 — Community leaders campaigning for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) met yesterday with fellow overseas Filipino workers here to explain why she should be given a fresh mandate in the May 10 Philippine election.
Called the V4GMA (Victory for GMA), the group said Filipinos need an experienced and well-prepared leader at this critical time when the country faces tough competition from other economies.
Various OFWs who compose the core group chaired by community leader Angel Pantoja addressed the crowd to explain the various programs of government under Arroyo.
“We are a volunteer group committed to the collective good of fellow OFWs and the Filipino people back home. Their welfare is our main concern and we know that we will be better off under an Arroyo government,” Pantoja said.
Noli Benavent, another Arroyo campaigner, said Arroyo has done many things for the country such as providing electricity to about 90 percent of those who did not have it before, expansion of the PhilHealth program to benefit the poorest of the poor, improved the transportation system, and stepped up the fight against terrorism.
“If there’s peace, there’s progress,” he said, borrowing a line from Arroyo. “Walang himala. Kailangang magsipag tayo at makipagtulungan upang iluklok si GMA sa liderato. (There are no miracles. We have to work hard and cooperate to install GMA’s leadership),” he said.
Tony Apolto likewise addressed the crowd, taking a potshot at FPJ supporters who have been calling the petite president a “dwarf.”
Apolto illustrated how bad it would be for the country if Poe, a high school dropout whose has not held a single public office, becomes president.
As in the Philippines, most of the professional OFWs in the Kingdom are likely to vote either for Arroyo, former Education Secretary Raul Roco, or Sen. Panfilo Lacson. But among the low-collar OFWs, Poe is considered a hero who could translate his fighting skills in the movies to good governance.
One of those present during the meeting at the White Palace Hotel yesterday did not take the comments and jokes against Poe lightly.
“The derogatory remarks have been intended to downgrade FPJ, who has been getting high ratings in local poll surveys,” he said.
Earlier this week, OFWs in the Eastern Province organized their own group to campaign for Arroyo, saying she has proven her concern for migrant workers.
Arroyo’s campaigners in Riyadh came out a day after seven organizations in the national capital announced their support for Lacson, who they said is what the Philippines need because of his strong resolve and no-nonsense style of governance which he had shown when he headed the Philippine National Police.
V4GMA’s core group is composed of Pantoja, Benavent, Apolto, Noel Balderrama, Florencio Coronado, Edgar Gona, and Bong Roldan.
