UNA, KBL to sign covenant vs poll fraud

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and the newly formed Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and Partido Magsasaka at Manggagawa (PMM) alliance have agreed to forge a covenant against possible electronic cheating in the May 2016 elections.

Oliver Lozano, KBL-PMM spokesman, said a top UNA leader has agreed to forge a covenant with them during a meeting in Quezon City yesterday.

“The signing of the covenant will be done in a formal ceremony to be attended by top UNA leaders,” Lozano said.

KBL president Vicente Millora and PMM president Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. met with the UNA official, whose name is being withheld pending the signing of the agreement.

Lozano said talks with representatives of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and other political and multi-sectoral groups are also ongoing and they are expecting more organizations to join their alliance.

“The possibility of electoral fraud is not remote and in case that happens, the only option is a peaceful people power,” he said.

A source told The STAR that the possible tandem of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos and Binay will also be discussed.

But Millora said the Marcos-Binay tandem is a remote possibility as the Vice President has declared his presidential bid.

The KBL-PMM alliance is pushing for a team-up of Marcos and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, but in case the latter rejects their proposal for him to run as vice president, they would look for an alternative.

Millora said the KBL-PMM alliance is optimistic that Marcos would accept their nomination when the filing of certificates of candidacy starts in October.

He said they are also holding consultations with other groups supporting Marcos’ candidacy.

From the KBL acronym, Millora said the initial battle cry of their coalition would be “Kay Bongbong Lang” for president in next year’s elections.