Bayan Muna's Ocampo, Gabriela's Maza running as ind. senatorial bets

MANILA, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 (STAR) By Jess Diaz - Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela party-list yesterday announced that they are running as independent senatorial candidates in the 2010 elections.

In a press conference, they said talks to create an alliance between militant groups and the Nacionalista Party (NP) collapsed last weekend.

Ocampo said the entry of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. into Sen. Manuel Villar’s senatorial ticket has made their talks with NP “untenable.”

Before Marcos entered the NP ticket, Ocampo announced they would most likely support Villar, especially because NP offered two slots for militants in its senatorial slate.

LP, on the other hand, did not offer them slots in its senatorial slate.

“We cannot accept Sen. Villar’s statement that Filipinos should forget the past. He had promised us that he would pursue the issues of compensation for human rights victims during martial law and the recovery of the wealth of the Marcoses,” Ocampo said.

He said any future leader of the country who promises good governance “has to make past leaders accountable for their misdeeds, from the Marcoses to President Arroyo.”

“We remain resolute in pushing forward the politics of change and the overarching interest of the Filipino people,” he said.

He said militant organizations would continue to dialogue with Villar and Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, and their youth organization Kabataan have secured eight seats in the House of Representatives and claim to have a voter base of three million.