Statement of Mr. Joey de Venecia on Withdrawal from Senate Race

From Joey De Venecia III: Statement on Senatorial Candidacy

During this past month, I have been seriously reflecting on my senatorial candidacy guided by my desire to serve the people and encouraged by my achievements in public governance as Executive Vice President of PDP-Laban and senior advisor to the Vice President of the Philippines. At the same time I have been continuously involved in private business generating investments and creating jobs particularly in the BPO, call centers and technology sectors.

I am humbled in being included in the senatorial line-up of the prestigious United Nationalist Alliance. I am particularly grateful to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Manong Johnny Ponce Enrile, and former President Joseph Estrada for their support.

I would also like to thank the Filipino people who recognize my contribution in our fight against corruption and acknowledge my capability to bring employment to our workforce. A recent Laylo Research Strategies survey placed me tied for the 13^th position without my having to engage in any form of campaigning or broad public exposure. I thank the Filipino people for indicating in the survey that they want me to serve in the Senate.

I have made a choice.

My efforts in business have resulted to substantial and wide-reaching investment agreements in BPO, call center, technology and other sectors. These investments guarantee numerous jobs for the Filipinos. However, since I am a pioneer in the call center and broadband technology business, my direct involvement in these industries is necessary; which means that if I run for the Senate, I will have to delay these private sector initiatives until I finish my term in office.

Through these businesses, I have the opportunity to provide investments and jobs for our country immediately today. Through these businesses, I have the opportunity to help government realize Filipino aspirations especially among the poor immediately today.

I have therefore decided not to run for the Senate in 2013. Instead, I will pursue these immediate business endeavors bringing investments and jobs to our country. In so doing, I shall have achieved through business what I will only begin achieving through the Senate.

My time in the Philippine Senate will come. It is clear to me that public service is part of my life’s mission. I will continue to work for the prosperity of as many Filipinos as possible  and at the appropriate time in the future prepare myself for the Senate.

I thank everyone for your support.

Joey De Venecia III

-oOo-

UNA senatorial slate for 2013 polls complete – Binay

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said that the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has already finalized its senatorial slate for the 2013 polls.
In an interview with reporters after he gave his speech at the Liga ng mga Barangay National Convention in Pasay City, Binay said that UNA has decided to include Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Margarita Tingting Cojuangco in its senatorial slate.
“We are including him (Escudero) in the slate,” Binay said when asked about the status of the alliance’s talks with Escudero.
Binay also noted that he was 99.9 percent sure that Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, aunt of President Benigno Aquino III, would be included in the ticket.
Cojuangco is the wife of UNA vice president and former congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
UNA is the new coalition formed between Binay’s PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
During a press conference last Monday, UNA announced that Senator Loren Legarda had accepted the party’s invitation to run as a guest candidate for the senatorial slate.
Among those who earlier made it in the slate were Senators Gregorio Honasan, San Juan Representative JV Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce-Enrile Jr., former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon, Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos’ Magsaysay and businessman Joey de Venecia.
Binay and Estrada had also said that Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares was already an “adopted candidate.”
Binay said that he was not bothered by reports that Legarda had talks with President Aquino, saying that Legarda would campaign with UNA.
“Legarda is UNA’s candidate. She will join UNA’s political activities,” Binay said.
Asked about the campaign arrangements for Escudero, Binay said that it would be like the arrangement for Llamanzares, who he had earlier described as an “exception to the rule.”
Escudero and Llamanzares had both been reported to be likely adopted by the Liberal Party (LP).
However, Binay noted that they would not force Llamanzares to join the campaign if she would not be allowed by the LP.
Llamanzares, in earlier reports, had noted that she had not yet received final instructions from Aquino.
Binay had also earlier announced that UNA candidates would be filing their certificates of candidacies on October 1, 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

GRACE POE THANKS ERAP FOR INCLUSION IN UNA LINE UP

GRACE POE THANKS ERAP FOR INCLUSION IN UNA LINE UP

Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares thanked former President Joseph Estrada today for having included her in the line up of the United Alliance (UNA).

Estrada made the announcement yesterday at a press conference of UNA at the Coconut Palace. UNA is the coalition between the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino party of Estrada and the PDP Laban headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Poe is the daughter of Estrada's best friend, the late Fernando Poe Jr, who ran for president when Estrada was incarcerated in 2004.

"Ako ay nagpapasalamat kay Pangulong Erap at Vice President Binay sa kanilang pagsama sa akin sa line up ng UNA bilang isang guest candidate. Sadyang hindi matatawaran ang pagkakaibigan ng aking ama na si FPJ at ni President Erap. Kaya naman nakakataba ng puso na dahil sa samahan ng tunay na magkaibigan, walang pagdadalawang-isip ang patuloy na suporta sa akin ng aking Ninong," Poe said in a statement.

Estrada maintains that FPJ was the winner of the 2004 presidential elections but was cheated by proclaimed winner Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

(End)

LOREN, GRACE, MACEDA CONFIRMED AS UNA CANDIDATES

LOREN, GRACE, MACEDA CONFIRMED AS UNA CANDIDATES 

Senator Loren Legarda, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda and Movie Television Review and Classification Board Chairman Grace Poe-Llamanzares were confirmed today as candidates in the line up of the United Alliance for the 2013 elections. The United Alliance or UNA is the coalition between the parties PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada.

At a press conference today at the Coconut Palace, Estrada officially announced that Legarda and Poe are in the UNA line up. Legarda was former running mate of Estrada's best friend and 2004 presidential contender the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) while Poe is the daughter of FPJ.

Maceda, meanwhile, who was present at the press conference and likewise declared as part of the line up, was the campaign manager of the Estrada-Binay campaign in 2010. 

The complete line up of UNA was not announced, as talks are still ongoing after the UNA Executive Meeting held at noon today, due to the recent confirmation by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia that she will no longer run for the senate. 

UNA candidates will file their certificates of candidacy together on October 1. 

The line up now includes: Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Gringo Honasan, San Juan Congressman JV Ejercito, Cagayan Cong. Jack Enrile, Zambales Cong. Mitos Magsaysay, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, former Senator Richard Gordon, former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, MTRCB Chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares, businessman Joey de Venecia.

UNA is only waiting for a formal announcement from Senator Chiz Escudero before formally including him in the line up but UNA elder former Senate President Ernesto Maceda said he is already considered part of the UNA family. Escudero was also spokesman of FPJ in the 2004 elections and a godson of Estrada. 

The last slot is still under discussion, pending the formal acceptance by former Tarlac Governor Tingting Cojuangco, who is the wife of PDP Laban Secretary General Jose 'Peping' Cojuangco. Other names being considered are Binay's daughter Nancy Binay and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian. The decision will be announced later this week. 

MACEDA: I WILL GET SENIOR CITIZEN VOTES

Senator Maceda said he will get the votes of senior citizens. "I am honored to be a candidate of this team that is led by the wisdom of senior citizens. Enrile is 88, Estrada is 75 and Binay is 69 but as you can see, UNA is stronger than ever," Maceda observed. 

"The plight of senior citizens is very important to us in UNA," Maceda said. "We are taking the cue, of course, from Vice President Jojo Binay, who has led the campaign to uplift the lives of senior citizens even back when he was mayor of Makati City."

"It is not enough that we give our senior citizens more avenues for recreational activities but we need to also give them opportunities to contribute to nation-building, which at this age we are eager to do. When you have reached senior citizen status, what you want to do is give back to your community, to your country," Maceda said. 

Maceda also emphasized that the social pension program should be increased to P 3 Billion to cover indigent senior citizens. He added that the allowance of P500 as part of social pension for senior citizens should be increased to P 1400, the amount given for CCT beneficiaries.

(End) 

UNA NOT WORRIED OF MAR APPOINTMENT TO DILG

INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines – Whether the transfer of Secretary Manuel Roxas II to the Department of Interior and Local Government  is meant to firm up his chances in the 2016 presidential election does not worry the United Nationalists Alliance.

Former President Joseph Estrada on Saturday belittled the advantage that Roxas might have as head of the DILG, confident that Vice President Jejomar Binay would win the next presidential race.

“He beat him in the vice presidential race, so what more in the presidential race?” Estrada said in Filipino, referring to Roxas and Binay’s hotly contested political battle in the 2010 elections. “Vice President Binay has already proven himself.”

Estrada, a senior leader of UNA, noted that Binay’s trust and approval ratings were even higher than those of President Benigno Aquino III in recent surveys.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted from February 26 to March 9 this year showed Binay enjoying an 84-percent approval rating compared with that of the President, who got 70 percent. Another Pulse Asia survey two months later recorded an 81-percent trust rating for Binay and only 67 percent for Aquino.

Estrada welcomed the appointment of Roxas to replace the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Roxas headed the Department of Transportation and Communications, which will now be led by Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Estrada described Roxas as “good,” recalling the secretary’s stint as trade secretary during his administration. But Estrada said he had reservations on how Roxas would address what he called the “worsening” peace and order situation.

“Mar will be a good administrator,” he said. “My only worry is peace and order. He has no experience in that.”

As DILG boss, Roxas will supervise both the Philippine National Police and local government units. Initially during Robredo’s term, Aquino diluted his functions and tapped his shooting buddy, Undersecretary Rico Puno, to handle PNP matters.

In terms of experience, Estrada said Senator Panfilo Lacson would have been the logical choice for the DILG portfolio. He cited Lacson’s stint as PNP chief, during which the national police enjoyed relatively high approval ratings.

Representative Jerry Treñas of Iloilo acknowledged that “the biggest challenge for Secretary Mar is definitely peace and order.”

“But with his long experience in government and his excellent management skills, I am confident that we would see some immediate improvement on the country’s peace and order situation,” he said in a statement.

“Secretary Mar is an all-around troubleshooter. That’s the reason why the President appointed him in the DOTC at a time when the agency was in some sort of turmoil and now he’s appointed with the DILG because the agency needs the best of the best for this highly sensitive position,” he said.