CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Former Pres. Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi party has continued to crack, and rather noisily, in this province where she is now congresswoman in the second district.
Third district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales – known as among the closest to former Pres. Arroyo during her term – has been branded as a virtual Judas to Mrs. Arroyo for his decision to abandon Lakas-Kampi party and jump to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Confirming his jump to NPC, Gonzales told Punto he has already apologized to Mrs. Arroyo for his “audacious move” which, he added, was a result of a year-long consultation with his political leaders in this province’s third district where he was the Lakas-Kampi chairman.
This, even as Gonzales belied reports that his decision was in exchange for the release of his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) which has yet to be released to other Kapampangan members of Congress, all of whom remain political allies of Mrs. Arroyo.
He said his PDAF was released even before he finally moved to the NPC last month.
“I will never turn back on allies who had greatly helped me,” Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said in a press briefing here yesterday, referring to Gonzales whom he virtually accused of being a traitor to the former Kapampangan president.
Mrs. Arroyo is still recuperating from her third surgery on her cervical spine at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Gonzales had been known as among the closest ally of the former president. He was frequently included in Mrs. Arroyo’s official trips abroad, at times even sitting beside her on their airplane.
Gonzales forwarded to Punto a text message he sent to Mrs. Arroyo, saying “I want to see you personally to apologize for the unintended pains that I have caused over this audacious move.”
Pamintuan, who had been secretary for external affairs of Malacañang and later president of North Luzon Railways Corp. during the Arroyo administration, said Gonzales’ reasons for moving to NPC was inadequate for the many favors he received from the former president.
“We do not just abandon those who have helped us especially when they are in adversity,” he said.
Pamintuan related that during a recent visit of Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda to Mrs. Arroyo at St. Lukes, the former president even asked her to help Gonzales with some P40 million he needed for his scholarship program.
Pamintuan also cited reports that over a certain period, Gonzales was beneficiary of some P700 million fund from the Department of Public Works and Highways during the Arroyo administration.
Gonzales confirmed this, but noted that the funds were spent for the benefit of his constituents.
In his text message to Mrs. Arroyo, Gonzales said “this may not be the time to inform you of an important decision I just made considering what you are going through.”
“I do not wish to add more to your pain and suffering but I also want to be honest and fair to you, ma’am. I have decided to join NPC,” he said.
Gonzales also told Mrs. Arroyo that he wanted to tell her this earlier, but that he was “overtaken by events”, adding that “I know you understand that I did this in the interest of my constituents, especially the poor.”
“To remain where I was would have compromised the future of many, including perhaps my own political future,” he added.
Gonzales insisted he “did not turn my back on GMA (Mrs. Arroyo) simply because I moved to another party”, adding that “there is a distinction between personal relationship and political and party affiliation and public
service.”
Gonzales was the official congressional bet of Lakas-Kampi in the 2010 elections and was believed to have alienated from the party City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez who then moved to the Liberal Party.
