Civil society backs Tañada

Senatorial candidate Wigberto ‘Bobby" Tañada of the People Power Coalition, although still outside the Magic 13 in the latest Social Weather Station opinion survey, is turning out to be the leading candidate among cause-oriented groups, nongovernment organizations, people’s organizations and civil society in general.

Various progressive groups, despite their ideological and political differences, have been one in endorsing Tañada’s candidacy.

Tañada, who has always engaged civil society in his development agenda, expressed confidence that he will be among the frontrunners in the senatorial race because of the crucial support of civil-society groups.

Echoing civil society’s call for a new politics of issues rather than personalities, he urged his fellow candidates to engage in a higher level of discussion and debate, where the campaigns would not be a simplistic labeling of whether a candidate is pro-or anti-Erap.

The former senator likewise urged the media to compare a candidate’s current pronouncements with his or her track record. "It is easy to make flowery promises on poverty alleviation, but action speaks louder than words," Tañada said.