Marcoses form ‘third force’

A third force is preparing to challenge the administration and the opposition coalitions in the arena of politics.

And steering this newest political party are none other than the young leaders of the once powerful Marcos and Romualdez clans.

In a reunion of former Marcos government and military officials held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City Thursday night, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, her brother Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos and their cousin Alfred Romualdez Jr. formally introduced the Third Force, or simply "IBA."

IBA is an acronym for Imee, Bongbong and Alfred.

In an interview, Rep. Marcos said the gathering was held to find solutions to the current political and economic crises as well as hear the suggestions of the official family of her late father, President Ferdinand Marcos.

She said that between the deeply troubled leadership of President Estrada and the protests being orchestrated by the elite, the Filipino people need an alternative group of leaders.

"We have to answer the call of the silent majority of the Filipinos. We have to recognize the sentiments of the ignored majority. From their lamentations, we have reached a consensus that it is our responsibility to address their urgent concerns," Marcos said.

She said the current environment of political power play, which has been magnified by the impeachment trial of the President, does not reflect the true concerns of the ignored majority.

"We reject the continuation of oligarchic deceit. We likewise reject those powers, who, by example, insult the values and nobility of the Filipino culture. Today, we make a stand against those dark forces and create this Third Force to challenge them," Marcos said.

The Ilocos congresswoman said IBA will recruit young leaders who will be fielded in next year’s elections.

"The Third Force will act independently and judiciously. We will not take sides," Marcos said.

Her brother, the governor, called on both government and anti-Estrada groups to lessen politics and start doing their part in solving the current crisis.

"The dream for a wiser nation remains elusive. We must give the young leaders a chance to engage in governance," he said.