Groups band together to campaign for Gloria

Various non-government organizations and civic groups vowed yesterday to form a common front to campaign for President Arroyo in her bid to seek a full six-year term in the May elections.

Adopting the acronym PRO-GLORIA for Progressive and Responsible Organizations for Good Leadership, Outstanding Reforms and Intelligent Actions, the group pledged to mobilize their member organizations to conduct a nationwide parallel campaign that would also support the administration’s K-4 senatorial slate.

"We now have at least a million members and we are still growing," PRO-GLORIA spokesman Erle Argonza told a news conference at the launching ceremonies held at a restaurant in Quezon City.

Argonza said Mrs. Arroyo has the edge over the other presidential candidates because of her actual experience in running the government.

"We believe that if she is given more time, she can do so much more for the country," he said.

Argonza said that among their plans to generate votes for Mrs. Arroyo is to conduct "Biyaheng Gloria" from the barangay level.

"We will (also) be conducting a parallel campaign machinery to match that of the K4," Argonza said.

The group is composed of various NGOs and civic groups which included among them Bigkis Pinoy, Lakas Pinoy, Kalipi, Aguman ng Kapampangan, Kaisahan ng Mamamayan para sa Bayan (Kaisambayan), Kaibigan ng OFW, the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, United Filipino Seafarers, the Muslim Peace and Order Council for Metro Manila, and youth groups E-Gloria and Team Gloria.

Argonza said that they expect more groups to join PRO-GLORIA as the campaign period heats up.

Asked if the group has retired military and police officers as members, Argonza said they are not recruiting them but they are, however, welcome to join.

The group said there are many reasons why they are supporting Mrs. Arroyo.

Aside from her actual experience in government, the group cited the nation sustained economic growth despite the crisis that marked the first years of her administration.

They stressed the administration of Mrs. Arroyo has shown firm resolve in ending the three-decade old communist rebellion and Muslim secessionist problem in Mindanao.

They said that it was during Mrs. Arroyo’s administration that the public saw concrete measures being taken against terrorism and kidnappings, the campaign against illegal drugs, ongoing lifestyle checks of perceived corrupt public officials and the resolution of the nearly two-decade old issue on the Marcos ill-gotten wealth cases.

"(Mrs. Arroyo) steadfastly and triumphantly faced all the crises while succeeding in implementing programs for the uplift of the ordinary Filipinos," the group said.

PRO-GLORIA also issued an appeal to critics to refrain from mudslinging and using "dirty tricks" against Mrs. Arroyo, but confront her squarely on issues.

"We should raise the discussion on issues and not engage in political mudslinging," said Alex Caugiran, a member of PRO-GLORIA’s organizing committee.

The group also admitted Mrs. Arroyo will face a tough opponent in the person of movie star Fernando Poe Jr.

"We may be up against a popular candidate, but we are confident that people will put greater premium on actual accomplishments rather than mere rhetoric or body language," Argonza said.

One of the groups, Kaisambayan, has vowed to mobilize a major chunk of the 365,000 migrant workers to vote for Mrs. Arroyo.

According to Kaisambayan president Poe Gratela, Mrs. Arroyo should be given credit for giving overseas Filipino workers the recognition due them.

Gratela, a former official of the militant group Migrante, said the passage of the Absentee Voting Law and the Dual Citizenship Act under Mrs. Arroyo’s term is proof of this recognition.

"If in the past I have criticized her administration for its handling of various OFW issues, I think we should also credit her short watch of barely three years for doing something that has finally given due recognition to the contributions of overseas Filipinos to our country and economy," Gratela said.