Party-list groups to join KBL alliance

MANILA, Philippines - At least five party-list groups in the House of Representatives are set to join the newly formed Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)-Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM) coalition to watch out for possible electronic cheating in next year’s polls.

PMM president Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. is set to sign an anti-electoral cheating covenant with lawmakers from the five party-list groups.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay has agreed in principle to join the coalition, Villegas said.

“With the entry of UNA we have already three major political parties and more groups are sending feelers to join our cause,” he said.

The coalition will set up its headquarters near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila, spokesman Oliver Lozano said.

A major ally has offered a building to be used as   coalition headquarters as soon as Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte decide to join the presidential and vice presidential race, he added.

Proximity of the coalition headquarters to the Comelec will allow them to closely monitor the conduct of elections next year, Lozano said.

“Any sign of cheating will be immediately exposed and dealt with accordingly,” he said.

At least 200 multi-partisan groups, including active, retired and reserve military and police officers, have witnessed the signing of the unity accord between the KBL and PMM  at a restaurant in Manila last Saturday, Lozano said.

The coalition was organized as the vehicle for the presidential and vice presidential tandem of Marcos and Duterte next year, he added.

The highlight of the unity accord is the commitment to combat any form of cheating during the presidential polls next year, Lozano said.