Lawmaker reveals 'game plan' in 2010

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Militant party-list Representative Satur Ocampo has divulged the "game plan" that Makabayan, an alliance of progressive party-list groups, would pursue to get the needed seats in 2010 elections.

Ocampo of Bayan Muna party-list told his supporters in North Cotabato during the first province-wide convention of Makabayan last Friday that the alliance will take "three steps" to make sure they both win in national and local elections next year.

First, the alliance will attempt to get two seats at the Senate.

Makabayan, after series of meetings early April this year, decided to field Ocampo and Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza for the Senate.

As political machinery, the Makabayan will ally or unite with other political parties, institutions, and groups that would campaign against the Arroyo government and the candidates of the administration party, the Lakas-Kampi.

This, according to Ocampo, was in response to the public clamor for a reform-oriented government.

"We will topple the Lakas-Kampi candidates, especially those on top," Ocampo said.

Through Makabayan, the progressive left has stood firm on its fight against "corrupt, repressive and elitist politics" that adhere to dictates of foreign capitalists or investors.

"We will not allow compromising our national patrimony to foreign capitalists," he said.

Second, the game plan includes the positioning of at least 15 representatives from eight progressive party-list groups, including Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak Bayan, Anak Pawis, ACT-Teachers Party-list, Migrante, Courage, and Katribu.

"Dapat palakihin ang impluwensiya. Gawing mahusay ang pagbaha-bahagi ng mga boto sa party-list sa mga probi-probinsiya para tiyak makapasok ang 15 sa kanila, [We must expand our sphere of influence. Make good our division of votes in different provinces so that at least 15 from our party-list groups will win seats at the Lower House]," Ocampo said.

Early August this year, the progressive left launched the Makabayan as a vehicle for the senatorial bids of Ocampo and Maza.

Both, during the convention in this city said they were running for the Senate to give voice to the marginalized sector.

Ocampo has already served three consecutive terms in the House as the Bayan Muna party-list nominee, while Maza will also end her term as representative of the Gabriela party-list.

From three seats in 2001, the progressive party-list groups now have eight seats in the House.