Alvarez goes independent in Senate bid

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) spokesman Heherson Alvarez yesterday said he would still pursue his senatorial bid as an independent, even with the completion of the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) ticket.

In a statement, Alvarez acknowledged that former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s inclusion in the K-4 slate was a "strategic political move for political advantage."

However, Alvarez said, he cannot accept any compromise that threatens "the core values and ideals that are being shared by about 120 Christian-Democrat governments worldwide and the Lakas-CMD here."

"I hope this decision to put Dr. Santiago in the (K-4) slate, which is actually a strategic calculation in the guise of reconciliation, will not cost the party the votes necessary for victory," Alvarez said.

"This is just one small stage in the evolution of our country’s political life," he said, adding that "we must not fail to point out that this kind of realpolitik is injurious to our long-term national interests; that exceedingly overwhelming accommodations are harmful to the building of a durable faith in our people in democracy."

Santiago’s inclusion in the K-4 senatorial slate has effectively shut Alvarez out of the administration’s coalition ticket. Alvarez filed his certificate of candidacy as an independent Monday.

He said that should he "coalesce with any other party, it would be one with whose programs I had worked with in the past and with whom I share principles and ideals."

"I am flattered and thankful that other parties have been considering me even as I made clear my basic and principled positions on these issues," Alvarez said.

"I hope history will vindicate us and I’m fully confident that when our political system would have stabilized, (gotten past) our Third World setbacks and weaknesses, commitments to programs ideals would be firmly entrenched," he said.

On Wednesday, the Lakas-CMD Isabela Valley chapter asked President Arroyo to include Alvarez in the administration coalition’s senatorial slate.

Isabela Rep. Edwin Uy said the local party chapter passed the resolution during an emergency meeting after learning that Santiago had accepted the President’s offer to join the administration’s senatorial ticket.

Alvarez reiterated that he does not intend to resign from Lakas-CMD just because he has already filed his certificate of candidacy as an independent and criticized the President’s decision to include allied of deposed President Joseph Estrada among the administration coalition’s senatorial candidates.

While Alvarez said he was deeply hurt by his exclusion from the K-4 senatorial lineup, he said he had initial talks with presidential candidate Raul Roco regarding the possibility he could be adopted by Aksyon Demokratiko, Roco’s party.

Meanwhile, in his capacity as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino communities, Alvarez welcomed US President George W. Bush’s initiative allowing eight million to 12 million undocumented aliens in the US, including at least 500,000 Filipinos, to remain in the US.

However, Alvarez said, "while we welcome the opportunity for many new employment opportunities for undocumented Filipinos in America, the Philippine government should push for eventual permanent residency status."

"Much like the illegal Mexicans, out TNT (tago nang tago) kababayans (countrymen) in America, now numbering more than half a million, must be recognized. They are part of a shadowy group that should surface and be harnessed as a valuable workforce," he said.

Alvarez said some three million undocumented Mexican immigrants were legalized as US residents. Mexican illegals are said to comprise the bulk of undocumented aliens in the US.

Bush said he will submit a proposal to the US Congress to allow undocumented aliens to take jobs that Americans are not willing to do.

He also said the Bush initiative was not meant to legalize the stay of undocumented aliens in the US, but to give them a limited three-year period within which to work legally in the US. It will not provide blanket amnesty for foreigners illegally staying in the US.

The Bush initiative, Alvarez said, will boost the $8 billion in annual remittances now being sent home by the estimated seven million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working in the US.

Alvarez has issued a warning against illegal recruiters who might take advantage of the new development in the US to lure unsuspecting jobseekers.