Froilan: Crisostimo backed GOP in ‘01

Democratic Party standard bearer Froilan Tenorio has lashed back at rival Luis P. Crisostimo, accusing the senator of supporting the Republicans even when he was running under the Democratic Party in 2001.

Crisostimo and his family made substantial contributions to the Babauta-Benavente campaign in the 2001 general elections, Tenorio said in rebuttal to Crisostimo’s statements questioning his loyalty to the party.

Crisostimo, a failed candidate for the Democratic Party’s 2005 gubernatorial nomination, has criticized Tenorio for forming the Reform Party and running against the Democrats in the 2001 elections.

Citing the BB-team’s 2001 campaign contribution report, Tenorio pointed out that Senator Crisostimo and his wife Maria donated at least $3,500 in cash to the Republican candidates’ campaign. This is besides the $100 contributed by the couple’s company, APC Co.

The report also showed a Ramon Crisostimo and a Jack Crisostimo donating $500 and $1,000 respectively and a Jerry Crisostimo making in-kind contributions such as tens of cases of beer and soda, shirts, caps, and bandanas.

Crisostimo has brothers named Ramon and Jerry, who is also called Jack.

“The senator is bragging that he is a true Democrat, but he is not. He’s a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He was running under the Democratic Party in 2001, yet he and his family were contributing a lot of money to [Republican Gov. Juan N.] Babauta,” said Tenorio.

For this reason, Tenorio said he would rather have Crisostimo run as an independent gubernatorial candidate.

“I want him to hold on to his votes. If he doesn’t run, his supporters will only vote for Babauta. I’m not counting his supporters’ votes as votes for the Democratic Party,” the former governor maintained.

In a separate interview, Crisostimo admitted that his wife and his company bought fundraising tickets from the Babauta-Benavente camp during the period leading to the 2001 elections.

He maintained, however, that he stopped donating to the Republican candidates as soon as he started campaigning under the Democratic Party.

Further, Crisostimo said he made the contributions not because he supported his party’s opponents, but only because Babauta’s wife, Diana, is his cousin.

“I did not make those contributions to the Republican Party, but to Diana who is my cousin. Besides, those contributions were made during the primary, at a time when candidates ask everybody for support,” Crisostimo said. “I’m 100 percent loyal to the Democratic Party and I have my record to prove it. I stuck with the party. I never went out and campaigned against it.”