Militant lawmakers ditch Marcos-allied NP

Two senatorial aspirants under the Nacionalista Party (NP) want their names removed from the political group's slate for the 2010 elections in protest for its recently forged alliance with the Marcoses’ Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL). At a press conference Tuesday, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza said they would rather run as independent candidates than be under the same banner with Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is also one of NP’s senatorial bets. The two militant lawmakers said staying under NP would compromise their stance on issues such as the recovery of the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth and compensation for human rights victims during the reign of Marcos’ father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. "Isang malaking sampal yan [alliance] sa mga biktima ng Marcos dictatorship na karamihan ay constituents namin," said Ocampo, who was one of the many political activists imprisoned during Martial Law. (The NP-KBL alliance is a big slap in the face of the victims of the Marcos dictatorship, many of whom are our constituents.) Ocampo and Maza made the decision a few days after NP and KBL signed a covenant of alliance for the 2010 elections. The two conceded that they may face difficulties in financing their campaigns without the support of NP’s standard bearer, Sen. Manny Villar Jr., a self-made billionaire whose resources help fuel his party’s money and machinery. They, however, expressed confidence that they could find ways to campaign among the voters, particularly those in the countryside. "We will build our alliance as we have been doing in the regional and provincial level," Ocampo said. Expected to back Ocampo and Maza are members of the Makabayan Coalition, which is composed of several progressive organizations Bayan Muna and Gabriela. Maza said that despite their decision, they are still willing to talk with Villar’s camp regarding their common platforms and programs. "Yun namang pakikipag-usap ay nakabukas (We are still open to talks)," she said. Ocampo said the talks are meant to ensure that the militant groups' views and proposals are understood and implemented by the opposition presidential aspirant if he wins in the upcoming elections. - KK, GMANews.TV