Congressman Ben Evardone Planting Controversy

An official of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Monday urged Eastern Samar congressman Ben Evardone to stop sowing intrigues that would undermine the reform agenda of President Benigno Aquino III.

UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said President Aquino's statement that everything is alright between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay should put an end to the futile attempts of Evardone to sow intrigue between the two highest officials the country.

"The President himself said there is no rift between him and the Vice President and that he is satisfied with the VP's performance as Cabinet member," Tiangco said a press statement.

With this candid statement, Tiangco said Evardone should shut up and instead help his newly-acquired partymates but not by sowing intrigue, which is "the usual weapon of the insecure and the desperate."

Tiangco said Evardone, who was one of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's trusted lieutenants in the 2007 election, and former Arroyo loyalists in the ranks of LP known for "Sipsipolitcs" could undermine the President's reform agenda.

"It is these pseudo reformists, not UNA, who will undermine the President's reform agenda," Tiangco said.

"UNA has always been a constructive opposition. We support and commend programs that benefit the people but will bring up shortcomings and misguided policies of the government," he said.

Tiangco pointed out UNA's full support for the administration's decision to file a case against China before the United Nations as proof that the coalition "is not the traditional opposition that Evardone wants to paint it to be."

Tiangco again dared Evardone to first examine his tainted political background, especially his history of shifting political loyalties, before pointing an accusing finger at UNA.

Evardone served as Media Bureau Director of Team Unity in the 2007 Senatorial Elections under the ruling party Lakas-CMD-Kampi. A staunch ally of former president Gloria Arroyo, Evardone was given a vital post in KAMPI after his controversial resignation from Lakas-CMD in 2008.