Four opposition senatorial candidates campaigning in Negros Occidental over the weekend called on Negrenses to vote against corruption and poverty by opting for change, pointing out that the reforms the Arroyo administration has long been promising have yet to be fulfilled.

They also stressed that voting for the opposition will keep democracy alive.

Campaigning in the province Saturday were movie actor Richard Gomez, and Genuine Opposition senatorial candidates Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Sonia Roco and Loren Legarda.

Escudero met with sugar industry leaders and joined the Pasalamat Festival in La Carlota City along with Gomez Saturday, while Legarda arrived yesterday.

Escudero said the GO is waging a revolution against poverty and corruption, unlike President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who keeps promising reform at a slow pace.

The people's choice is clear - if they want slow change they can vote for the administration but if they want swift action against the ills of the nation they should vote for the opposition, he said.

Votes for the administration bets mean the nation will continue the way it is but a vote for the opposition would mean hope and a chance for the change, Escudero said.

ROCO

Roco said the opposition is necessary in government to question the actions of the administration otherwise it will become a dictatorship.

If the president says she is for reform, then where are the reforms? Roco asked.

The revolt the opposition is talking about is for change and it is not through guns, goons and gold but a change of heart for selfless service for the people, she said.

Money is not everything, said Roco, who attributes her steady rise in the surveys to the "sheer sincerity" of her election campaign.

Roco is advocating educational reform.

LEGARDA

At a press conference in La Carlota City yesterday, Legarda said she is happy she remains number one in the surveys and hopes it stays that way.

The claim of the administration bets of a 12-0 sweep in their favor is impossible and unbelievable, she said.

No one in his right mind will believe the administration bets will win by 12-0. "It will be bad for democracy and disastrous for the economy," she said.

She appealed to Negrenses to choose candidates who are competent, honest and hard-working.

"Let's vote wisely and watch our votes," she said.

GOMEZ

Gomez, who is an independent senatorial candidate and a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, said it is time to choose the right candidate.

And I urge the people to vote for me because my heart is in the right place, he said.

Gomez said he does not have to run for the senate because he is doing well in his career in the movie industry, but, "I am running because I really think this government is a failure, a lot of problems have not been addressed properly."

Gomez said his credentials include having studied at the University of the Philippines and New York University, having brought home numerous medals for the country as an athlete, and being Presidential Adviser on Youth and Sports Development, and national chairman of the Mamayan Ayaw sa Droga.

He is continuing his campaign against drugs, the need for sports, and for amendment of the EVAT law, Gomez said.

When administration senatorial candidates like Prospero Pichay say machinery will win over popularity, it simply says cheating will win over the will of the people, Gomez said.

A lot of candidates are fighting and a lot of lives are being lost because of dirty politics and dirty elections, he said.

ESCUDERO

Escudero, meanwhile, said the opposition will make those who use government resources to win the May polls accountable for their actions after the May polls.

He also called on the party in power to uphold the sanctity of the ballot and respect the right of the people to elect their representatives to the legislative body.

Escudero warned that attempts to manipulate the electoral process, "as developments in the past few days seem to indicate, would ultimately result in the death of democracy and widespread chaos."

One such sign, Escudero pointed out, is the report that the military is taking a direct hand in the campaign under the pretext of voter education. He said the participation of the armed services, besides being totally unnecessary to achieve the intended purpose, could easily work to intimidate the people.*CPG

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