Left learns to play off Nacionalista, Liberal

THE left-wing Bayan Muna and other allied parties are now playing traditional party politics in an effort to gain as much concession as they can from the moneyed politicians by dangling their support base between the Nacionalista and Liberal parties.

The presidential bet obtaining the support of progressive groups stands to gain from the estimated three million voters of the working class, marginalized and poor sectors, according to Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño.

Given their limited funds, the progressive groups could rely on a coalition partner and presidential bet to subsidize their candidates for the Senate and party-list representatives.

Apart from talking to Senator Manuel Villar’s Nacionalista Party, Bayan was also in talks with the Liberal Party and the group of Senator Francis Escudero, Casiño said.

The LP has already forged an alliance with the more moderate Akbayan and included its nominee, Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, in the party’s senatorial team.

But the talks between the LP and Bayan are being hampered by the festering issue of Hacienda Luisita, which is owned by the aunts and uncles of LP presidential aspirant Senator Benigno Aquino III.

Besides talking with Bayan, the Nacionalistas are negotiating with renegade Marine Col. Ariel Querubin for a possible senatorial slot for him, NP spokesman and prospective senatorial contender Adel Tamano said.

The Nacionalistas are willing to allot up to two seats in its 12-member senatorial slate to the leftists whose nominees include Casiño, Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Party List Reps. Liza Maza, Javier Colmenares and Joven Laura of Bayan Muna, and Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anak Pawis.

“I think we have many things in common,’’ former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla said.

“We will not enter into an alliance with any party or group if we do not share the same vision of advancing the country’s economic development, fighting social injustice, alleviating poverty, and safeguarding human rights,”

Remulla said the Nacionalistas’ alliance with these groups should not alienate or alarm conservative business groups into thinking that it might lead to the adoption of radical government policies on employment, wages and land reform.