STATEMENT OF UNA SECRETARY GENERAL TOBY TIANGCO ON THE CALL OF LP SPOKESMAN BEN EVARDONE FOR RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW IN THE SUSPENSION OF CEBU GOVERNOR GWEN GARCIA

Liberal Party spokesman Rep. Evardone used to be one of Mrs. Arroyo's most loyal defenders and used to insist that Mrs. Arroyo was on the right side of the law each time her regime abused its power.

He now speaks of "letting the legal process prevail” and “respect for the rule of law” in the suspension of Governor Gwen Garcia, UNA’s provincial chair for Cebu and congressional candidate. These words sound very familiar. These are the same words used by Rep. Evardone and other former Arroyo defenders to justify the harassment of the opposition led by Vice President Binay in 2006 and 2007.

Like other Arroyo defenders who shifted loyalties en masse to the ruling party, the LP spokesman is recycling the same excuses meant to justify political harassment. Harassment is harassment. You cannot invoke “respect for the rule of law” and “daang matuwid” to justify a patently illegal act and the abuse of power. Those who are now invoking the rule of law and the righteous path should first examine their tainted political and moral backgrounds to avoid embarrassing themselves and their new masters.

Nothing can justify abuse of power, especially not the recycled statements from defenders of the discredited former regime. No matter what the LP and its apologists say, the people of Cebu know that Martial law has been imposed in their province.

For UNA, respect for the rule of law also means extending courtesy to a co-equal branch of government. Since a case has already been filed before the Court of Appeals, the administration party should allow the courts to decide.

The LP claims that party members are treated in the same manner as Governor Garcia. We want to remind the LP that in the case of Caloocan Mayor Recom Echeverri, an LP member, his suspension was not effectively served and his followers were allowed to camp out in front of City Hall with the least intervention from the police. We did not hear the LP or the administration asking him to follow the suspension order while waiting for the Court of Appeals to decide.

In the case of Governor Garcia, there are glaring violations of the law and clear abuse of power. The LP-affiliated Vice Governor closed down two media outlets on flimsy grounds. The police erected barricades and deployed armalite-wielding policemen to the capitol. Supporters of the Governor and even employees were prevented from entering the grounds.

The leaders of UNA visited Governor Garcia to show their support for a beleaguered member and to make sure that the authorities respect the law. This is hardly a controversial move. It cannot be compared to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas attempting to influence the Sandiganbayan when he accompanied his party mate Grace Padaca when she posted bail for a graft case.

The LP gubernatorial candidate for Cebu has also said that the people of Cebu will render the ultimate judgment in the 2013 elections. This is precisely our point and this is what makes the suspension order nothing more than a power grab by the LP, a desperate and blatant attempt to overturn the decision of the people of Cebu in the 2010 elections. #

UNA BETS DOMINATE PULSE ASIA POLL

Candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) dominated the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

The survey conducted from November 23 - 29 involving 1,200 respondents showed UNA could win seven out of the 12 senatorial slots in 2013.

Sen. Francis Escudero led all senatorial bets with a score of 74.1 percent, while Sen. Loren Legarda got 68.3 percent. Both Legarda and Escudero are guest candidates of UNA.

The survey results showed at least five other UNA senatorial bets landing in the Magic 12. San Juan Representative Jose Victor Ejercito is currently in 4^th place with 57 percent and Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr. is in 5^th with 53.2 percent.

Incumbent Sen. Gregorio Honasan is in 8^th with 44.9 percent while Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter Nancy Binay jumped to 9^th place with 41.3 percent.

Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri rounds out list in 12^th with 40.5 percent.

Other UNA candidates in the top 20 are former Senator Richard Gordon in 14^th, Grace Poe – Llamanzares in 17^th, former Senator Ernesto Maceda in 19^th and Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco in 20^th place.

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STATEMENT OF UNA SECRETARY GENERAL TOBY TIANGCO ON THE UNA COALITION AND THE PRESIDENT'S REFORM AGENDA

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is a coalition of two major political parties whose support for the reform agenda of President Aquino is beyond question.

In the Senate, the senators allied with UNA have firmly stood behind the President’s legislative priorities. And if there is one test of UNA’s support for the rule of the law, transparency and accountability in government, one need only to recall how our senators voted in the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice. 

UNA should be seen as a partner of the Aquino administration. We are not obstructionist critics.  We will support and commend programs and policies that will benefit our people. But we will also point out shortcomings and misguided policies. This we owe to the people.

We believe that the reform agenda of our President is best served not by blind obedience but by responsible vigilance. We must make sure that the abuse of power for personal and political ends and the widespread corruption and misuse of public funds during the previous regime will not be repeated.

There are those in the administration coalition who are attempting to recast themselves as true-blue believers in reform and good governance. The truth is that these personalities were among the most rabid defenders of Mrs. Arroyo when she was in power, but have found it politically convenient to wear yellow and proclaim themselves as advocates of Tuwid na Daan. These political hypocrites know who they are.

In contrast, most of the leaders and members of UNA have proven their commitment to truth, freedom, and good governance.

Mula pa noong panahon ng batas militar, noong Rebolusyon sa EDSA, at hanggang administrasyon ni Mrs. Arroyo, naroon at lumaban ang marami sa mga kasapi ng UNA.

Noong dinaya si FPJ, lumaban kami na noon ay kasapi ng Genuine Opposition para manaig ang tunay na tinig ng bayan. Noong isampa ang impeachment kay Mrs. Arroyo, naroon kami at lumaban din sa Kongreso, sa harap ng pagharang ng mga kaalyado niyang higit marami sa amin ang bilang. 

Halos lahat ng mga humamak kay FPJ, halos lahat ng mga humarang sa impeachment ni Mrs. Arroyo ang ngayo'y bahagi ng administrasyon. Nandiyan pa ang mga nagsabing handa silang kupkupin si Mrs. Arroyo sa kanilang probinsya kung ayaw na ng mga taga-Metro Manila sa kanya. Ganyan ang klase ng suporta na ibinigay kay Mrs. Arroyo ng mga ngayon ay nagmamalinis at pumuposturang maka-reporma.

Hindi namin inaalis ang karapatan ng halos lahat ng mga dating kaalyado ni Mrs. Arroyo, sa pambansa at lokal na antas, na sumama sa koalisyon ng administrasyon. Malaya silang pumili ng kanilang sasamahan. May ilan sa kanila na kasama din namin. Para sa UNA, ang mahalaga ay nagkakaisa tayo para sa interes ng sambayanan.

Naninindigan ang UNA na ang halalan sa 2013 ay hindi dapat labanan ng “kami” at “sila.” Ang kalaban natin ay hindi ang isa’t-isa. Ang kalaban natin ay ang gutom at kahirapan.

Naririto ang UNA upang samahan ang mamamayan sa laban na ito. Kung may mga kasama kami na pumupuna, ito ay nagmumula sa hangarin na ituwid ang sa kanilang tingin ay mali at tiyakin na hindi nalilihis ang ating pagtahak sa tuwid na landas. Sana ay hindi ito masamain dahil ito po ay bahagi ng demokrasya. Magkaroon man ng hindi pagkakaunawaan o pagkakaiba ng opinyon, ang layunin naman natin ay iisa: maisulong ang mga reporma upang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang lahat ng Pilipino. #