Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday said he can fairly say that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has the overwhelming support of the Negrenses.

The governor was reacting to the statement of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra Monday that Negrenses want the president to step down.

"The records of the last election show that Arroyo won in Negros inspite of the fact that I supported the presidential bid of Fernando Poe Jr.," Marañon said. Other Arroyo allies also insisted on Monday that the president has the support of the majority of Negrenses, but lawyer Rodolfo Parreño yesterday said what they are probably referring to are just the local elected officials "but the president definitely does not have the support of the masses in Negros Occidental".

It is expected that Arroyo's allies would say that she still has the support of the majority because they are with the administration, was the reaction of Navarra yesterday, Fr. Anecito Buenafe said.

"It all depends on what kind of eyeglasses one is wearing. If you look at withered grass with green eyeglasses it will look green," Buenafe said.

Felipe Levy Gelle, Bayan Negros secretary general, said that until a satisfactory explanation to the "Hello Garci" tapes is given, Arroyo's popularity will remain low.

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) yesterday said that while the Diocese of Bacolod is holding a prayer rally at the Bacolod public plaza today for the nation so the president will never implement a state of national emergency and martial law again, he will pray for the enlightenment of its participants.

The economy is moving forward, the peso is strengthening and the stock market is rallying, let's give the president a chance to move this country forward, the presidential brother-in-law said.

In a radio interview yesterday, President Arroyo said that unlike the long line of previous coup attempts since the late 1980s, the latest one did not lead to an economic meltdown.

Gelle said one of the reasons people are discontented with the Arroyo administration is that her so-called economic progress has not trickled down to the masses who remain poor. The economic gains have only benefited big business, he said.*CPG

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