By Gerard Naval

Malaya; 28 Oct 2009

THE Commission on Elections yesterday denied the bid of Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago (Magdalo) for accreditation as a regional political party based in the National Capital Region.

“The Magdalo Party remains unrepentant and they still harbor the propensity to engage in another illegal adventure similar to the failed 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, should they fail to achieve their goal – this time with the use of the political party that they are now applying for accreditation and which may very well be used by them to recruit and indoctrinate disciplined followers who may become their blind followers,” the Comelec Second Division said a six-page decision set to be promulgated by the Comelec secretariat.

The Second Division said its findings contradict the group’s claim that “the party does not advocate the use of force or violence or other unlawful means to achieve its goals.”

It noted the testimony of former Air Force 1Lt. Ashley Acedillo, the party’s secretary general and spokesman, during the September 3 hearing that the Oakwood incident was not illegal.

Some 300 junior officers and men calling themselves the Magdalo group staged the mutiny in July 2003 to protest what they said was rampant graft and corruption in the military and the government as a whole.

Acedillo said they have not received a copy of the decision but it did not come as a surprise.

“As much as we were hopeful, since we complied with the substantial requirements of Comelec, we were also expecting the decision to be unfavorable to us. We recognize that adverse political forces are at play here,” he said.

Acedillo said his group will file a motion for reconsideration.

The Second Division invoked the Omnibus Election Code denying accreditation to any political party which seeks to achieve its goal through violence.

It also noted that the party’s chairman, detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, were among the officers who did not plead guilty before a Makati court hearing their coup case.

Trillanes was among the six core leaders of the Magdalo during the mutiny.

Last Sunday, the group endorsed the presidential bid of Sen. Francis Escudero as well as the senatorial candidacy of former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin.

Lim and Querubin, a Medal of Valor awardee, are among 28 officers facing court martial for an alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006.

The group also endorsed the candidacies of four others participated in the mutiny, including Acedillo who is running for congressman at Cebu City’s second district.

The three others are Navy Lt. (s.g.) James Layug, for the second district of Taguig City; Army Capt. Dante Langkit, for the lone district of Kalinga province; and Marines Capt. Gary Alejano, for mayor of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental. – With Ashzel Hachero

October 25, 2009 Sunday

The reformist Magdalo group announced today their official endorsement of the candidacies of its six card-bearing members and the presidential bid of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

In the first party resolution he read, Magdalo Party Secretary General Francisco Ashley Acedillo announced their endorsement of Army Brig. Gen. Danny Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who are both running for the Senate.

In addition, three of four other Magdalo leaders who also received the group’s backing are running for the House of Representative through their respective districts. They are Navy Lt. Senior Grade James Layug, for the second district of Taguig City; Air Force 1Lt. Francisco Ashley Acedillo, for Cebu City’s second district; and Army Captain Dante Langkit, for the lone district of Kalinga province.

Marine Captain Gary Alejano, meanwhile, has been endorsed as candidate for mayor of the city of Sipalay in Negros Occidental.

In another party resolution, the results of the party’s balloting were announced which showed Sen. Escudero garnering 53.7 per cent of the votes cast by the party leaders or a 24.7 per cent margin over the candidate with the second highest number of votes.

“We are supporting the presidential bid of Sen. Escudero. The decision of the group to back the senator is a product of a thorough and comprehensive consultation among our members nationwide,” said Magdalo national spokesperson Air Force Lieutenant Francisco Ashley Acedillo at a press conference at the University Hotel in Diliman, Quezon City.

Party delegates were made to select from among the opposition presidential bets on the basis of the latter’s character, vision and leadership.

The Magdalo has more than 40,000 members nationwide representing 375 chapters at the provincial, city or municipal level.

Party Resolution Nr. 09-001

A RESOLUTION ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR THE SENATE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CITY MAYOR IN THE UPCOMING MAY 2010 ELECTIONS

Promulgation: 25 October 2009

WHEREAS, THE MAGDALO PARTY is a socio-political movement for change and good governance, representing reformist officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other reform-minded citizen-volunteers of the Republic of the Philippines;

Whereas, in coming to this decision it reaffirms its vision for the country and its stated mission and principles;

Whereas, the Magdalo Code of Conduct states that each and every member should participate in democratic elections, and that this participation involves not only the act of voting but also in supporting progressive-minded and reform-oriented candidates chosen by it;

Whereas, first and foremost, such candidate should be intrinsically good as a person as a guarantee of the purity of intent in all his/her actions/policies;

Whereas, these candidates should have a clear vision coupled with the corresponding program of government to realize that vision – coupled with the leadership skills and competence to accomplish what he/she has set out to do.

Whereas, the entire membership of the Magdalo is duly-represented herein in this first-ever National Convention, and as such is speaking with one solid voice to formalize such support and this Resolution;

Whereas, while observing democratic processes and observing organizational discipline, we have, more importantly, expressed profound hope for genuine national development through our support of political leaders that embody this hope for change;

The Magdalo Party HEREBY RESOLVES, as it is RESOLVED, together with its entire membership and its network of supporting individuals and organizations, to endorse the candidacies of:

o Brigadier General Danilo Lim, for SENATOR;

o Colonel Ariel O. Querubin, for SENATOR;

o Former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade James Layug, for CONGRESSMAN of the 2^nd district of Taguig City;

o Former Marine Captain Gary Alejano, for MAYOR of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental;

o Army Captain Dante Langkit, for GOVERNOR of Kalinga province; and

o Former Air Force 1Lt. Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo, for CONGRESSMAN of the 1^st district of Cebu City;

Be it FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be furnished to all Magdalo chapters throughout the country and that it be widely-disseminated to the public.

This Resolution shall take effect on the 25^th day of October, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

For widest dissemination.

SO ORDERED.

SENATOR ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV

CHAIRMAN