THE United Nationalist Alliance on Sunday denounced what it called the thug-like tactics of the rivals of senatorial candidate Princess Jacel Kiram who, it said, is being pressured to support another presidential candidate.
Kiram, a resident of Davao City, said some people had approached her and even advised her to print campaign posters with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte if she wanted her campaign materials posted in the city.
“Kasi ang sabi dapat daw magpagawa ako ng tarp na dalawa kami ni Duterte, pero I cannot do that because I have my president,” Kiram said.
She slammed the removal of her campaign posters and tarpaulins in Davao City because she was supporting UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay. She said that was not the first time her campaign materials were removed in Davao.
She said her supporters saw “people who looked like employees of the Davao City Traffic Management Center” taking down and confiscating her campaign materials—even those posted in private residences.
“Nakatira ako sa Davao pero hindi ko nga naiintindihan kung bakit pinapatanggal nila ang tarpaulin ng isang tumatakbong senador na residente ng Davao… iyon nga lang, si Binay ang dinadalang presidente,” Kiram said.
UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said UNA had received several reports from its leaders in Davao that city hall personnel were removing the campaign tarpaulins of UNA candidates even in the private establishments.
“Huwag naman sana daanin sa pwersa at pananakot ang mga kandidato ng UNA. Elections are not won by terrorizing political rivals. We should respect each other’s views and beliefs,” Ilagan said.
“How can one claim to be a champion of peace when people live in fear and terror?”
Kiram urged her supporters to observe propriety and sobriety at all times despite the intimidation she and her followers had experienced in Davao.
“I hold my rivals in high regard and I do not want to believe that anyone has ordered the removal of my posters. However, it is very disappointing to see such acts of sabotage,” she said.
Kiram is running under the United Nationalist Alliance and is pushing for the Philippines to intensify its claim to Sabah.
She is also for decentralization, greater Muslim participation in government, and the advancement of women’s rights.