UNA campaign manager dares LP to invite him in Baguio sortie

Rep. Toby Tiangco, campaign manager of UNA. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–United Nationalist Alliance secretary general and campaign manager Tobias “Toby” Tiangco dared the Liberal Party to invite him to its campaign sortie in Baguio and let him speak for the group if they really think he is LP’s “biggest campaigner.”

“I will be in Baguio at the same time that they are there. If indeed I am their biggest campaigner, invite me to their rally and I’m willing to speak. That’s my challenge,” Tiangco said, pertaining to LP spokesman Erin Tañada who earlier tagged Tiangco as the party’s “biggest campaigner.”

Tiangco declined to give details on what he would be talking about.

“That’s up to me because I’m their campaign manager. If they cannot invite me to their Baguio rally to speak on stage, then that means he’s (Tañada) lying,” Tiangco said.

UNA and LP are set to campaign in Baguio on Sunday.

Furthermore, Tiangco said that he doesn’t want to be associated with people who used to “lick the seat of GMA [former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo],” citing the case of Bam Aquino, son of Paul Aquino, who was Arroyo’s former campaign manager.

“Tapos binigyan pa ng pwesto sa PNOC as a reward (Paul Aquino got a post in Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corp.),” he said, adding that the administration-led coalition has remained silent on this matter.

“What does Paul Aquino know in the election fraud in 2007? They don’t answer that. What does Bam Aquino have to say about the corruption charges against Arroyo and what does he have to say about to the cheating in 2007 and 2004. They don’t want to answer that,” he said.

Tiangco also alleged that President Benigno Aquino III”s “tuwid na daan (straight path)” campaign only applies to his rivals.

“Kapag kalaban ka nila, hahanapan ka nila ng butas. Pero kapag kakampi ka nila, pwede naman pala (If you’re their foe, they’re going to find fault in you. But if you’re an ally you won’t have any trouble),” Tiangco said.

Asked if bringing up these issues is part of UNA’s campaign strategy, Tiangco said UNA’s advocacy is the truth.

“If I am LPs biggest campaign manager, then they should invite me to speak at their Baguio rally,” he said.