Madrigal backs Roxas for VP, trains ‘guns’ on Legarda

To show her "full support" for Sen. Mar Roxas, independent presidential candidate and Senator "Jamby" Madrigal had planned to attend the ABS-CBN's “Harapan” vice presidential debate on Sunday night at La Consolacion College in Manila.

But a trip to Dagupan City, where Madrigal attended a “Sunday worship” of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious sect, prevented her from doing so.

Last weekend, Madrigal told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that aside from cheering for her “friend” Roxas she would also check out “if (Sen. Loren Legarda) would speak the truth” during the televised debate.

“We secured ten tickets for the La Consolacion debate,” disclosed Fritzi Lim, Madrigal's secretary.

Madrigal has been unflinching in her campaign against Legarda, the guest vice presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party and NP standard-bearer Sen. Manny Legarda.

According to Madrigal, she really wanted “to be a part of the crowd at La Consolacion to show my full support for Mar Roxas.”

Roxas, running mate of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, standard bearer of Liberal Party, “is sure to be our next vice president...Kawawang Loren (Loren’s pathetic),” said Madrigal.

“Mar (Roxas) has shown political maturity, statesmanship and leadership. Unlike Senator Legarda, Senator Roxas is motivated by a true desire to serve our country rather than personal ambition. He is not a political turncoat and has remained with the LP throughout his political career,” noted Madrigal.

Madrigal cited “some of the reasons why the Filipino voters should not support Loren.”

“She's such a hypocrite. She claims she's planted many trees. Yet, she voted for (the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, or JPEPA).”

Legarda's partnership with Villar is “also an issue,” according to Madrigal.

“Loren once hated Manny Villar with a passion. She worked hard to oust him as Senate president. Then, she joined forces with him for the money.”

Madrigal has made good on her promise to make Villar and Legarda-bashing a staple of her campaign sorties.

“If Villar is elected president, there will be no limit to his greed,” Madrigal told leaders of the party-list groups Ating Coop and Abante Katutubo. Both organizations, among other groups, have endorsed Madrigal's presidential bid. Madrigal also dismissed Villar's “rags-to-riches story” as a “cheap gimmick.”

“One may have come from a poor background before becoming rich, but that doesn't guarantee that person has integrity. Manny Villar was poor when he married a rich woman,” Madrigal said.

The senator slammed anew Villar and Legarda's “song and dance politics.”

“Just goes to show how little respect they have for Filipino voters... Are they running for the country's top posts or auditioning for movie parts?” said Madrigal who earlier said she regretted resorting to the same tactics when she first ran for senator.

Villar has been doing a lip-synched version of controversial TV host Willie Revillame's “Ikaw na Nga” (It's Really You) to cap his rallies.

In an interview, Madrigal told the INQUIRER that “Loren will always be an acquaintance. But you can't have friendship when your principles are different.”

“Like (President Macapagal-Arroyo), Loren is an Assumption girl. I went to primary school there and partly higher grades. But I think that's where we end. Gloria, Loren and I share a completely different set of principles when it comes to politics,” she added.