GO bets proclaimed at Plaza Miranda

Ten of the Genuine Opposition’s senatorial bets were officially proclaimed last night before a huge, cheering crowd at Plaza Miranda in Manila’s Quiapo district.

San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, who also serves as the GO campaign manager, introduced the opposition’s 10 senatorial candidates, except for detained former soldier Antonio Trillanes VI, who sent a representative.

At the height of the political rally, opposition organizers played a videotaped message from detained former President Joseph Estrada, who asked his supporters to vote for candidates who will fight for the independence of the Senate, protect the 1987 Constitution and respect human rights.

"They are the only and true opposition - no more, no less; no addition, no subtraction; no fear, no hired supporters. I ask you to support them in the same way you continue to support me," Estrada said in Filipino.

"Let us vote for a Senate that will be independent, that will be truly democratic," he added. "These are the candidates who comprise the Genuine Opposition."

Former senator Loren Legarda was the first candidate called to the stage and Legarda, in turn, introduced the rest of the GO senatorial ticket; former senator Nikki Coseteng, Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Trillanes’ representative Councilor Sonny Rivera, Sonia Roco, former senator John Osmeña, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.

Of the 10 candidates, Escudero roused the loudest applause from the audience, followed by Cayetano. Many young female admirers located near the stage kept calling Escudero so they could have their pictures taken with him.

Estrada said the GO candidates will represent the people well in the Senate and will fight against the corruption, cheating, the peace and order problem, unsolved political killings and human rights violations which the opposition blames on the weak governance of the Arroyo administration.

"Amid these feelings of fear and hopelessness... I call on our people to elect somebody that will truly represent the welfare of our people and will preserve our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law and the poor."

The GO candidates were already posed for a group picture as early as 6:00 p.m., with a large Philippine flag serving as their backdrop.

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., an adopted GO candidate, was not yet at the rally then, as he was campaigning at a nearby shopping mall.

GO media bureau head Ferdie Ramos said Plaza Miranda can accommodate a total of 6,000 people. The rally opened with the singing of the national anthem and an inter-faith prayer.

Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino and singer Pilita Corrales took turns hosting the event, taking over from comedians Inday Garutay and Tiya Pusit.

Ramos said they decided on the Plaza Miranda venue because it is "hearing distance from Malacañang."

When he did arrive, Villar reiterated in his speech his vow to continue the fight against the Arroyo administration for seeking the abolition of the Senate. He is working on a platform that aims to preserve the Senate as an institution.

Senate Majority Leader Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan was a no-show, while Villar arrived at nearly 7:00 p.m., after nearly half of the GO senatorial candidates had taken the stage to present their platforms of government.

Pangilinan has maintained his stance as an "independent" candidate.

Other personalities at the rally were Sen. Alfredo Lim, who is running for mayor in Manila, former ambassador Ernesto Maceda, Batangas Vice Gov. Ricky Recto, former social welfare and development secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, singer Leah Navarro and lawyer Harry Roque.

An estimated 3,000 people gathered at the Plaza Miranda rally, the Manila Police District (MPD) said.

Senior Inspector Benito de Leon of the Plaza Miranda community precinct said there were no reports of any "untoward incidents" as of 5 p.m. yesterday. "It is very peaceful. We have laid out the security plans for the GO and had six bomb sniffing dogs going around the area since Friday."

Vans from television networks, the candidates’ mobile sound systems and other vehicles occupied about one-fourth of the area.

He said that apart from the MPD Station 3, the mother unit of their police detachment that has mobilized 123 personnel after being put on "full alert," the 10 other MPD stations each sent 10 policemen to augment their forces.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) deployed 60 additional law enforcers, while the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Office (MDTEO) also sent uniformed personnel to direct traffic.

The Manila City Hall also instructed its anti-illegal vendors team to disperse illegal vendors in the area.

The bulk of the GO supporters arrived at 5:00 p.m., converging at Morayta Avenue and at the Liwasang Bonifacio before they proceeded to Plaza Miranda.

One of the GO supporters at the rally identified only as Aling Lydia admitted that she received P250 and free food from the camp of one of the senatorial bets.

The GO supporters carried streamers, banners and wore shirts showing support for their candidates. Escudero had asked his supporters to wear masks of his face to the rally.

Noticeable in the crowd were some 30 members of the Manila Bikers Association who wore jerseys with the name of Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna.

Some of Lacuna’s supporters from Tropang Dilaw and Kaisa also wore yellow shirts and marched to the proclamation site. Lacuna is also running in Manila’s mayoralty race.

Lacuna said his presence at the rally was not an indication that he was wooing the GO to proclaim him as their official candidate, but he added that whoever the GO supports as a mayoralty candidate in Manila will not affect his political plans.

He added that the GO sought his help for their motorcade last week in Manila’s districts one, two and three and asked him to participate in yesterday’s rally.

"In the interest of fair play, Estrada should have been allowed to express his sentiments," Estrada’s lawyer Rufus Rodriguez said. "Plaza Miranda is a Freedom Park. Why can’t he campaign for the opposition?"

Rodriguez said that when he talked to Estrada about the matter of his attendance at the GO rally, the former president said he felt bad about the Sandiganbayan’s decision not to allow him to campaign for the opposition.

Rodriguez, who is also part of the legal team handling Estrada’s cases before the Sandiganbayan, said Estrada has not been convicted and is still presumed innocent, and thus, must be allowed to express his views about the government: "What are they afraid of? Estrada has been detained for almost six years." – Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan and Sandy Araneta