Palace poll hit men targeting 4 Senate hopefuls? – Malaya 12.27.2007

BY DENNIS GADIL

MALACAÑANG’S "hit men" have targeted at least four opposition senatorial candidates for "assassination by the ballot" by denying them victory in the May 2007 elections, a source close to President Arroyo said yesterday.

"The marching order is to prevent them from winning," the source said, referring to House minority leader Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Tarlac), and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito.

The source said Malacañang’s election operators will launch a two-pronged attack against the four % a barrage of negative propaganda and the ever-reliable "dagdag-bawas" operation.

"They were chosen based on their sins against the First Family. And their names come in order or in ranking," the source said.

The plot, the source said, was meant to prevent the entry of more opposition figures into the Senate.

The source said returning opposition figures like former senators Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan, John Osmeña, Ernesto Maceda, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Loren Legarda were not considered in the "hit list" for being "pliant like a bamboo."

"Being mature politicians, these guys are easy to deal with than a Cayetano or an Aquino," the source.

The source said Cayetano topped the list for accusing the First Family led by Mike Arroyo of stashing millions in ill-gotten wealth in a German bank while Aquino, son of president Corazon Aquino, will have to pay for his mother’s "betrayal" of the President in calling for her ouster at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal last year.

Escudero, a godson of President Arroyo, earned his spot in the hit list by virtue of being the House opposition leader and for leading the impeachment charge against the President.
Ejercito is a natural target for representing another branch of the Estrada dynasty in the Senate.

The four have been topping recent surveys on possible winners in the Senate election in 2007.