Partido Magdalo backs Villar, formalizes coalition with NP

KAWIT, Cavite , Philippines  – The Partido Magdalo (PM) declared its support yesterday for the presidential bid of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. in its convention attended by over 5,000 supporters.

The PM, a dominant local political party in the province, formalized its coalition agreement with the NP to support gubernatorial bet Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, elder brother of former representative Gilbert Remulla.

“Our partnership strengthens and emboldens our drive against poverty which has been hurting our people. Mitigating it is our most important concern,” Villar said.

Out of 23 mayors in the province, 13 mayors support NP, contrary to the Liberal Party’s claims that it has garnered most of the local support here.

Gov. Ireneo “Ayong” Maliksi earlier renewed his allegiance to the LP, which is fielding Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as standard-bearer.

In their coalition agreement signed at the Island Cove, the two parties vowed to mobilize their respective resources and efforts to bring about rapid economic recovery, political stability, and national peace and unity under a progressive and democratic social order.

Both the PM and NP, convinced of the urgent need for political stability, have manifested their willingness and capacity “to act in partnership for national unity, solidarity and teamwork to enable the country to address its problems with greater focus, dispatch and success.”

“It is only in partnership together that the Partido Magdalo and the NP can move the nation resolutely on the road to economic recovery, peace and stability,” the agreement added.

Despite the alliances, both parties shall retain their respective political identities while working together to find just and effective solutions to the nation’s social and political problems.

The forging of the agreement bolsters the earlier alliance between NP and PM members who took their oath before Villar at the historic Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City last August.

Magdalo for Chiz

The PM of Cavite is different from the Magdalo Group led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

The Trillanes-led Magdalo Group has expressed support for the presidential bid of Sen. Francis Escudero.

Escudero, who resigned from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) yesterday, batted for the release from detention of Trillanes and other leaders of his group.

He said Trillanes and other Magdalo soldiers should be freed because no one should be persecuted for fighting graft and corruption in the country.  

They should be given a chance to do what they want outside their prisons to fight corruption, Escudero said at his press conference at Club Filipino in Greenhills yesterday.

Trillanes won decisively in the 2007 senatorial elections with over 11 million votes.

Last Sunday, the Magdalo Group expressed its unequivocal support for the presidential bid of Escudero who pushed for the grant of amnesty to all soldiers and officers allegedly involved in a coup attempt against Arroyo in 2006 to heal the divisions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The government should grant an amnesty to other officers and soldiers still detained for violating Article 67 of the Articles of War (Mutiny and Sedition),” he said.

“Now that 11 military officers have been acquitted of violating said Article, the proceedings against 17 other officers detained for allegedly committing the same violation should be hastened.”

He reiterated that the families of detained military officers should not continue suffering, saying that “the absence of a father at home means their economic livelihood as well the educational upbringing of their children will continue to be affected.”

Among those detained are former Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Romeo Miranda, former Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Medal of Valor awardees Col. Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon.  – Christina Mendez