VP aspirants unite for fair, honest 2010 elections

In a rare display of unity, the country’s eight vice presidential contenders on Thursday gathered to commit themselves to upholding peaceful, fair, and honest elections. At a press conference at the GMA Network Studios in Quezon City, the aspirants – Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Dominador Chipeco, former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando, Senators Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas, Edu Manzano, broadcaster Jay Sonza, and Perfecto Yasay – vowed not to cheat in the coming nationwide automated polls. The press conference was held before the taping of Isang Tanong: the Vice Presidential Forum that would be aired on Sunday night, January 17. "I will not buy a single vote and I will not allow anyone to add a single vote other than what I deserve," said Legarda, who is seeking another shot at the vice presidency after losing the 2004 elections to Noli de Castro. The Nationalist People’s Coalition vice presidential bet has teamed up with Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. in the coming elections. Chipeco, the running mate of Ang Kapatiran’s JC delos Reyes, said he would push for limits in election spending to ensure that candidates would have no reason to recoup the millions they are expected to spend for campaigning and advertising.

The ‘sacred voice’ For his part, Fernando said he would fight against the proverbial "guns, goons, and gold" that has long tarnished the integrity of Philippine elections. "Ako’y hindi mandaraya at wala akong kakayanang mandaya, pero may kakayanan na harangin ang mandadaya. Kaisa ako sa malinis na halalan (I won’t cheat and I don’t have the capacity to cheat. What I have, however, is the capacity to go against cheaters. I am one in upholding a clean elections)," said Fernando, Senator Richard Gordon's [of Bagumbayan Party] running mate. Roxas, the Liberal Party’s vice presidential bet, said he and running mate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III vow to protect the "sacredness" of the people’s vote. "Kami po ay hinding-hindi, kahit papaano, mandaraya at hindi papayag na ang sagradong tinig ng ating kababayans ay manakaw (We will not cheat and we will not allow anyone to steal the sacred voice of the people)," Roxas said. Former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Perfecto Yasay, Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s running mate under the Bangon Pilipinas banner, said he would take the road less traveled in his campaign by ensuring that he wins not by popularity or a powerful electoral machinery. No to mudslinging The aspirants likewise spoke against the so-called political mudslinging, or using negative propaganda to gain advantage against an opponent. "New politics – the electorate is demanding for it. Everything is supposed to be issue-based. We should be able to encourage and inspire, and I don’t think that can be achieved with mudslinging," said Manzano, the running mate of administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. On the other hand, Binay said that exposing the anomalies of a certain candidate is not supposed to be seen as mudslinging, but as way of helping the public become educated voters. Kilusang Bagong Lipunan’s bet and UNTV station manager Jay Sonza said the nation should not lose hope in having a clean and honest elections. "Let us remove that element of mistrust and let us support this new electoral process." Signing the covenant Earlier in the day, four of the eight contenders – Yasay, Chipeco, Manzano, and Sonza – took oath and signed a pact committing to uphold the integrity of this year’s polls, as well as promoting good governance should they be elected. The other VP bets – Binay, Legarda, Fernando, and Roxas – already pledged last August 2009 during GMA News and Public Affairs’ “Eleksyon 2010 na, Tatakbo Ka Ba?" fun run held at the Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. At the time, they were still gunning for the presidency. Present at the oath-taking was Commission on Elections law department head Ferdinand Rafanan and representatives from GMA Network Inc.’s election partners. These are the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting’s Ana de Villa-Singson and the Philippine Bar Association’s Simeon Marcelo, a former Ombudsman. University of the Philippines lawyer Romeo Cruz notarized the signed covenants, which would make the candidates accountable should they commit any wrongdoing. Lawyer Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Network Inc.’s president and chief executive officer, expressed optimism that the network’s move would help educate the voters. "Nagagalak tayo that they (VP bets) are cooperating with what we want to do. At least nagpa-promise sila na walang kolokohan na gagawin dahil ang tao ay sawang-sawa na sa nangyayari tuwing eleksiyon. For a change, itong May 2010 eh gusto nating mapaayos," Gozon said in an interview. (We are happy that they are cooperating with what we want to do. At least they’ve promised they won’t do anything wrong, because the people are fed up with what happens every elections. For a change, we want the May 2010 elections to be different.) "We (GMA) are trying to do everything that we can. Come election time ang kanilang magiging desisyon ay Magiging very wise (the voters will make wise decision)," he added. - RSJ, KBK, GMANews.TV