Ermitas of Batangas back Mar-Leni duo

BALAYAN, Batangas—The “yellow” tandem of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Wednesday won a much-needed boost from the “reds” of Batangas.

Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, a trusted lieutenant of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Wednesday threw his support behind LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Ermita and his daughter, Batangas first district Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, welcomed President Aquino’s chosen candidates who barnstormed this vote-rich province for the second time in as many weeks.

Buhain, whose political color is red, belongs to the Nacionalista Party.

“Let’s welcome the next President of the Philippines! Long live Mar Roxas!” Ermita told the crowd of about 1,500 people, most of whom were wearing red T-shirts, who gathered at the municipal covered court.

Ermita, a retired military general who previously occupied Buhain’s post before he was appointed executive secretary by Arroyo, raised the hands of Roxas and Robredo.

An exultant Roxas thanked Ermita who, he said, showed him the ropes when he was a rookie legislator from Capiz in the early 1990s.

“He [Ermita] taught me how to do things [in the House of Representatives]. Part of my success now is because of your townmate,” he said to applause from the audience.

“I can see yellow, red, blue and even white in the crowd. The presence of different [political] colors here only means that whatever is happening in local [politics], we’re one in fighting corruption,” Roxas said.

“That is what daang matuwid [straight path] stands for,” he said.

In an interview, Ermita said he chose to back Roxas because he

considered him a “personal friend.”

“I was with him in the Congress for nine years. That’s why I’m here [to show my support],” Ermita said. “Secondly, my daughter is a member of the Nacionalista which is allied with the Liberal Party.”

Asked about reports that Arroyo had directed her allies to support the candidacy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Ermita said he was not aware of such an order from the former president.

“I haven’t heard of that. [Arroyo] has not spoken to me. I was never [asked] by the former president about that,” he said.