Roco backers launch ‘V4R’

There’s no stopping the Roco for President bandwagon now.

More than 1,000 people gathered at the Philippine Columbian at Plaza Dilao in Paco, Manila Tuesday night to launch the "Volunteer 4 Roco (V4R)" movement aimed at building a political machinery that they hope would catapult declared presidential aspirant Raul Roco to Malacañang in 2004.

V4R chairwoman Myrna Paguia said their volunteer group was formed to prevent a repetition of Roco’s fate during the 1998 presidential election when Roco lost to movie actor Joseph Estrada "because of a weak election machinery."

In that election, Roco placed third, after Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

"We want to make it this time," said Paguia, who also hails from Roco’s home province of Camarines Sur.

She said V4R was "devoid of any personal interest" and was formed simply because its members believed in Roco.

"We are pooling our money for this. We are not doing this in exchange for anything. We just believe in him," Paguia said. "We support (former) senator Roco because we believe he can institute changes in our political, social and economic system."

The V4R has produced car stickers which were widely distributed and can now be seen around Metro Manila.

She said the idea of forming V4R group stemmed from "small talk" among eight friends who met informally at her house a month ago, or two months after Roco told a youth group gathering that he would run for president in May 2004.

"When we met the second time, our number grew bigger until I could no longer accommodate them in my house. We decided them to form V4R. Now, we are around 800," she added.

But the group gathered at the Philippine Columbian appeared to be nearer 1,500, including several former government officials.

Roco, who was not told that he would be speaking at the launching of the V4R, was himself surprised at the size of the gathering and reiterated to the crowd his belief that volunteerism could give new meaning to Philippine politics.

"They always say that you need money to win an election. For me, it is not money. It’s the people who vote," Roco said,

Roco said V4R would show that "people working together can bring about change."

"When people get involved in government, the Philippines will have a chance. The President is committed to ensure honest and clean elections. There’s a chance for the country to show that there can be a new kind of politics," he added.