Independent Senate bet vows to fight dynasty

CEBU, Philippines - An independent senatorial candidate criticized President Benigno Aquino III for doing nothing against the Malaysian Government amid the killing of several Filipinos in Sabah.

Ramon Montaño said the administration should condemn the Malaysian Government for the killing of Filipinos during the standoff.

“The Aquino administration should condemned the Malay-sian government instead of being like tuta (puppet),” he said during a press conference yesterday.

Montaño, a Cebuano and a former military general was in Cebu to administer the oath-taking of some members of the Rebulusyonaryong Alayansang Makabayan (RAM)-Cebu Chapter.

He said Filipinos in Sabah were killed and yet the President is simply “noynoying”, a term coined by militant groups from the President’s nickname, Noynoy, which means doing nothing.

Montaño, who said he was a soldier all his life and had implemented strong campaign against insurgency, added that the government should bring this matter to the International Court of Justice in order to settle this “proprietary problem” between the Philippines and Malaysia.

If not, the United Nations Interfaith Committee should intervene.

“The Pope can always intervene to solve this conflict in a bloodless way. There are plenty of non-aggression pact made by the committee among different nations. What kind of government do we have if we allow our own people to die?” Montaño added.

On the other hand, Montaño, who did not make it to the top 12 in any surveys, said he does not believe in surveys.

He is optimistic of getting a Senate seat with the strong support of various groups in the grass roots level as well as from various local politicians.

If elected, he said, he will push for the passage of anti-dynasty bill in order to create a fair playing field to all candidates.

He admitted it is very difficult to fight candidates belonging to a political clan.

Montaño run for Congress in 2007 Negros Oriental but lost to one of the members of the powerful Teves clan in the Province.

The 75-year-old Montaño described himself as warrior of peace and justice, champion for the rights of the army and police veterans and fighter for the rights and benefits of senior citizens.

Montaño was responsible for the capture of renegade Lt. Col. Gringo Honasan, now senator, on December 9, 1987 and the neutralization and arrest of the latter’s top lieutenants.  (FREEMAN)