Legarda welcomes Makabayan endorsement

SEN. LOREN LEGARDA WELCOMED TODAY THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE VILLAR-LEGARDA TICKET BY MAKABAYAN, THE COALITION OF MAINSTREAM PROGRESSIVE GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY.
Legarda, the vice presidential candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition who is running in tandem with Sen. Manny Villar, standard bearer of the Nacionalista Party, said she is “happy and proud” to accept Makabayan’s endorsement, as this would enhance the party’s chances in the coming national election.
The senator pointed out that this is the first time that the mainstream legal Left has forged a “strong unity for a common platform of reform” with another mainstream political party such as the NP.
Legarda emphasized that the alliance with Makabayan “did not materialize overnight”, but she and Sen. Villar were “keen to push the partnership despite the many obstacles” and ideological differences.
The Villar-Legarda ticket includes Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Women’ Party Rep. Liza Maza as part of its senatorial slate.
Legarda said that the NP alliance with Makabayan manifests their “common commitment to pursue social justice, poverty alleviation, good governance, peace and environmental sustainability for our country.”
She cited the “sterling records” of Congressman Ocampo and Congresswoman Maza in pursuing these goals in the Lower House. “We respect them, as much as they are fully aware of our own track records and integrity in promoting the same in the Senate,” Legarda said.
Legarda said the NP-Makabayan alliance is “not only a major breakthrough in our own electoral campaign, but perhaps more importantly, a harbinger of an emerging unity of broad forces in our nation.”
Legarda said the alliance would work together to address the problems of poverty, natural disasters related to climate change, corruption, civil strife and rampant lawlessness that “threaten the very fabric of our society and endanger the future of the younger generation.”
The NP-Makabayan team-up, Legarda said, “is a much-needed step towards dialogue, tolerance andP-Makabayan team-up, Legarda said, “is a much-needed step towards dialogue, tolerance and genuine pluralism that augur well for the maturation of our democracy.”