Philippine left backs Villar, Legarda
MANILA, Philippines - After months of courtship, presidential candidate Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) succeeded in getting the support of the leftist group Makabayan.
Senatorial aspirants Bayan Muna Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza on Monday officially joined the NP senatorial ticket as "guest candidates."
Ocampo and Maza bring with them the support of the eight party-list groups under Makabayan--Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Katribu, Migrante, Courage, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.
"Matagal pinag-usapan ang pagsasamang ito. Di naging madali sa magkabilang panig dahil alam kong ito ay kauna-unahang pagkakataon. Nagsimula sa maraming pagkakaiba, sa pagwawakas konti lang pala pagkakaiba," Villar said at a press conference in Quezon City.
"I am extremely happy with this partnership," he added.
It is the first time that the leftist alliance is officially supporting presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
"Ganun kalaki ang pagtingin namin sa mga kandidatong ito," said Ocampo's colleague in Bayan Muna, Rep. Teodoro Casiño.
Backs NP platform
"Amin pong kinausap lahat ng seryosong deklaradong kandidato ng oposisyon.... Sinuri namin ang kanilang plataporma. Ang lupon ng NP ang pinakaangkop na plataporma na dapat madala [sa Malacañang]," said Ocampo.
Ocampo called the partnership a "mutual adoption" of platforms: Makabayan adopts the NP's platform while the NP adopts Makabayan's platform.
Villar said the NP's platform is similar to Makabayan's core beliefs--"pagmamahal sa bayan, pagmamahal sa mahirap, at pagmamahal sa kalikasan."
However, Ocampo said they are only supporting Villar and Legarda.
Whether or not they will support the other senatorial candidates of the NP will have to be further discussed, added Ocampo.
No to Bongbong
The son and namesake of martial law President Ferdinand Marcos is still on the NP senatorial slate as guest candidate.
Maza admitted that Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s positions on human rights abuses during his father's administration and on the Marcos ill-gotten wealth cases make it difficult for them to support him.
"Maganda kung makuha ni Bongbong ang pagkakaton na ma-settle ito. It's a good opportunity to heal that past," said Maza.
Last week, the NP cut its ties with the Marcos party, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Party). It is believed to be a concession to Makabayan, which did not want to be allied with the former dictator's party.
In a paper distributed during the press conference, Villar said "justice and indemnification will be provided to the victims of human rights abuses under the martial law regime as well as under succeeding governments."
Should Villar win, these will have to be prioritized under his administration, Ocampo said.
Legarda also vowed to push for reforms in the agricultural sector, a major advocacy of the leftist groups. -- (by Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)
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now showing "gamitan"
sino ang 'ginagamit at sinu ang nagpapagamit?
kumapit na sa patalim!
isinuko na ang dangal at prinsipyo para lang sa ambisyon.
Communist embracing Capitalist? Great!
With this thing happening that even the communists in the Philippines are supporting one the biggest capitalist in the country is amazing. This is a sign of a true leader, uniting both the left and the right. I just hope that what we are seeing is really what is happening or the Filipinos again will be the victims of political games that satisfies personal glories than the candidate's principles and the nation's interests. Isulong ang Bagong Lipunan.....Oppps
read this please.. this is for us..
sa totoo lang po natatakot na ako sa susunod na election… sigurado kapag nanalo si MANNY VILLAR mas nakakatakot na problema ang haharapin ng ating bansa. Mdami syang baho, tulad ng mga pinapatayo nya na mga subdivision, mga mall. lahat yun galing sa kaban ng bayan, hindi ba kayo nagtataka na sobrang dami nyang pera??? sigurado, lulubog tayo lalo sa kahirapan kapag si manny villar ang nanalo sa pagkapangulo.. Bumoto na kayong ibang presidente wag lang tong tao na to.. wla syang pakiaalam sa bayan.satotoo lang, pati mga bata ginagamit nya sa kalokohan nya sa commercial.. di na sya nakonsensya grabe sya mangamit ng mga bata.. basta po, sana wag natin sya iboto. dahil oras na manalo sya, sigurado ang una nyang gagawin ay mabawi yung mga ginastos nya sa pagkampanya nya, sa laki ng pera na nailabas nya. wala naman sigurong tao ang nabubuhay na hindi nya babawiin ang ginastos nya,ano yun tanga?? sa sobrang dami ng mga pera nya hindi ba kayo nagtataka kung saan galing yun?? sa atin yung mga pera na ginagastos nya ngayon sa pagkampanya.. imagine po, senador pa lang yan.. paano kung pangulo na… hummm…. kayo na po sumagot.. salamat
Kaliwa Kanan at Gitna
Magandang pangyayari ito sa ating politika kung ang mga ito ay nagkakaisa at tunay na kaunlaran at pagbabago ang plataporma at umpisahan na talaga ang tunay na rekonsilasyon sa watak-watak nating bayan. Pagkakaisa!!!
this time around the greater end justify the means
Many people were shocked with this development. I am also a bit uncomfortable with the arrangement. But I had to ask myself what could have prompted Makabayan to accept the guest candidacy offered by NP? Campaign support perhaps? Or a surer seat in senate?
It would be naive to keep on believing that platform alone could win a seat. And not just any seat mind you, but an influential and powerful one. Look at the current senators that we have, and honestly ask yourself who among them won based on the platform they carried? Did Revilla, Lapid, Joker win because people agreed with their platform? The answer to that would be NO, a great resounding NO. they won because they are popular, they have posters all over and they have the machinery to ensure that their votes get counted on every precinct.
Now let's look at what Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza have: Satur may be popular in the AB bracket, but how about Liza? They do not have huge funds to sustain their campaigns, what do we expect them to do? Wait in the sidelines lamenting the sorry state of the country at the hands of incompetent people? Or like their true militant selves, take action?
The country needs them, and you know how much we deserve to be led by people like them. I feel bad that it has to come this way, but this time around I think the greater end justify the means.
Mabuhay ang mga makabayan!
my BET
ang iboboto ko may sariling IDENTITY at hndi ginagamit ang pangalan ng mga magulang o kahit sino..
ang iboboto ko ang kandidatong maraming accomplishments na kapaki pakinabang para sa mga tao at hndi nag bubutas ng upuan sa senado..
ang iboboto ko ay ang may malinaw na plataporma, sincere at hndi pinilit lng ng mga trapo..
PRINISIPYO ANG PAIRALIN HINDI ANG PAKIKISIMPATYA..
Ka Satur and Liza Maza
Bong bong, Ka Satur and Liza Maza both supports Villar and Legarda as president and vice president, respectively. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na they support each other at hindi rin sila pareho ng partido. Kung mayroon akong pinagkakatiwalaan sa Congress na mga representatives, isa sina Ka Satur at Liza Maza. Si Ka Bel ay namatay na pinaka mahirap na congressman at may utang pa ng mamatay. Sino ba sa mga congressmen/women natin ang tunay na nagsisilbi sa mamamayang pilipino? Regardless of their political color at kahit na hindi nakakatanggap ng pork barrel kay GMA, ay patuloy pa rin silang nagsisilbi sa masa. I guess yung prinsipyo nila ay matatag pa rin kahit na sinusuportahan nila si Villar at Legarda. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Tara let's be factual
I agree. Ocampo and Maza have authored and sponsored more bills than most congressmen. Perhaps I can agree that they did not enrich themselves as blatantly as their congressional colleagues.
But how can the author of the Marcos Human Rights Compensation Bill side with a party who endorses Bong Bong Marcos? Di ba contradiction iyan?
Masyadong convenient ang excuse na "we wound not support Bong Bong but we will support the presidential candidate of a party that supports Bong Bong".
Can principles be compromised? Does the end justify the means?
Yes importante ang platform at track record pero importante din ang prinsipiyo at integridad. Ang pag alyado nila kay Villar and Legarda is a contradiction to the advocacies they fight for.
Of course, we all have a right to our own opinions. Iyon lang po ay opinion ko lang
MAKABAYAN SA SENADO
since 2001, Maza and Ocampo have been true servants of the Filipino people. Needless to say, hindi nila ginamit ang kanilang posisyon para magpayaman gaya ng ginagawa ng iba. Kaya nga sila ay nananatiling 2 sa mga pinakamahirap na Congresspersons. Instead, they used their position to fearlessly voice out the concerns and issues of poor Filipinos . Even if they are constantly being attacked and repressed by the State, patuloy pa rin sila.
Wala namang bago sa mga paratang na sila'y kuno mga NPA etc...Better read the Supreme Court decision on this para maliwanagan rin yung iba. It pays to be updated kasi parang sirang plaka rin yung mga accusations.
Well, democratic country naman tayo. kaya nga dapat we appreciate people like MAZA and OCAMPO who consistently fight for the rights and welfare of the Filipino people.
MAZA at OCAMPO sa SENADO
break a leg!
this will be a challenging fight para sa Senado.