Villar, Loren get militant youth groups' support

Militant youth and student organizations on Monday announced their support to the candidacy of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Sen. Manny Villar Jr. and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda. The groups— National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement, League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, and Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan—made the announcement at a press conference in Quezon City. “Yung pagboto namin sa kanya [Villar] hindi dahil galing siya sa mahirap kundi mas pa dun sa platform niya, yung willingness niya to address yung mga issues na nire-raise namin. So we still firmly support Sen Manny Villar and Loren Legarda," Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino told GMANews.TV in an interview after the press conference. (We chose Villar not because he came from a poor family but because of his platform and his willingness to address the issues that we raised.) He said the groups believe Villar and Legarda could answer the issues concerning the youth, particularly in education and freedom of speech. Other endorsements The groups also expressed support on the candidacies of senatorial aspirants lawyer Adel Tamano, Gilbert Remulla, Gwen Pimentel, re-electionist Sen. Pia Cayetano, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo, all from NP; Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Liberal Party; Silvestre Bello III of Lakas-Kampi; and Apolinario Lozada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. The groups said Ocampo and Maza have proven to them their commitment to fight for higher budget for education and to curb unjust and illegal tuition hikes. "Their track record and platform are the most youth-friendly," NUSP president Einstein Recedes said. Palatino’s group was also endorsed by the youth and student organizations. Villar, who was still in second spot in the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey behind Liberal Party’s Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, represented by Tamano in the briefing. Legarda was represented by her 17-year-old son Leandro. Villar was accused of lying in his campaign ads by claiming that he came from a poor family, and of using his influence on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Board for his own benefit. The candidates and their representatives signed a covenant stating their commitment to advance the youth’s democratic rights and welfare and pledge to give crucial attention to the development of young men and women. - KBK, GMANews.TV