Militant Bicol groups laud Chiz resignation from NPC

LEGAZPI CITY—Militant groups in Bicol hailed Sen. Francis Escudero’s resignation from the Nationalist’s People’s Coalition on Wednesday, a move which rattled the party founded by business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. and left it with no standard bearer.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Bikol (KMP-Bikol) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (Bayan-Bikol) welcomed Escudero's departure from NPC.

“Chiz made the right move in leaving NPC,” said Tessa Lopez, the regional public information officer of Bayan-Bicol.

According to Felix Paz, chair of KMP-Bikol and a member of the KMP national council, “Whatever his reasons for quitting the NPC are, we think that it is for the better. At long last, Chiz has escaped the stranglehold of Danding and is now free to decide on his own. This is welcome news for us, peasants, particularly coconut farmers because Danding is the biggest landlord in the country and until now he is still the one benefiting from the coconut levy funds.”

“At least now, Chiz can take more pro-people and pro-peasant stands and not think of his partymates’ interests, because as it is, we know that the NPC is generally a pro-landlord party and historically speaking, it has never stood for genuine small peasants,” explained Paz.

Lopez also said they disagreed with those saying Escudero’s move was political suicide. “Actually, what he did bolstered his political stock and would help him to be accepted by more people who are turned off by his Danding connection,” she said.

With this development, Lopez said, they hoped more politicians would take up the challenge to prioritize principles and the interest of the majority rather than money.

Asked about any possibility of Chiz’s joining the administration lineup, Carl Ala, a political economist and a professor of humanities, said, “it would not be possible now, considering that I believe Escudero is an all-out opposition and it would be inconsistent to his platform-based principles and the interest of the majority of the Filipinos. And besides, there is no tangible runningmate for Escudero as of this time.”

“I think that if he is still to run for the presidency the best running mate should be one who is (not) beholden to narrow interests as well, in other words, someone with no strings attached,” Ala added.

He also said that what Escudero did would serve as a challenge to Sen. Benigno Aquino III to break away from Cojuangco, who is his uncle, instead of courting his support.

“This will be a measure if Noynoy can stand up for principles and cast aside their family interest,” Ala added.

Meanwhile, the Bicolanos For Change Movement, an alliance of Bicolanos nationwide, also expressed support for Escudero, saying, “such action of Sen. Escudero is a manifestation of the new politics that he is espousing under the "Bagong Pagbabago" slogan and which must be emulated by our political leaders if we want to introduce meaningful change.”

Source: Inquirer Southern Luzon