Filtered By: Topstories
News

NP junks alliance with KBL, but keeps Bongbong as Senate bet


An internal squabbling within the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan resulted to the collapse of its alliance with the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar. But NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla maintained that they would keep Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in their senatorial slate for the 2010 elections. "It [alliance] is now replaced by the adoption of Rep. Bongbong Marcos as a Nacionalista Party official senatorial candidate," said Remulla, himself an NP senatorial bet, in a press statement. Bongbong is the only son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos. The late strongman founded the KBL in 1978, which until 1986 was the most dominant party in Philippine politics. On November 20, the NP and KBL formalized their alliance at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong City. No less than Villar, NP standard bearer, announced the inclusion of Bongbong in their senatorial lineup. But other KBL leaders said the alliance was forged without the consent of the party's national directorate, which it said is the sole body that represents them. Vicente Millora, chairman of KBL, said Bongbong resigned as their member in 1987, although Mrs. Marcos remains as their honorary chairperson. Bongbong, however, insisted that he is still with the KBL. He also underscored his full commitment to NP’s crusade against poverty in empowering the majority of Filipinos who are in dire straits. Bongbong began his political career as Ilocos Norte vice governor in 1980 at the age of 23. In 1992, he was elected representative of the province's second district, and then was elected as the province's governor for three consecutive terms starting 1998. In 2007, he was elected back to the House of Representatives, where he now serves as its deputy minority leader. One of the important legislation he authored was the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law or Republic Act 9522. Mrs. Marcos, meanwhile, is running for Congress in the Ilocos Norte's second district next year. - Amita Legaspi/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT