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Source: gmanews.tv

-- A group of reformist soldiers and civilian leaders on Sunday announced their support for Senator Francis Escudero’s presidential bid in 2010 even as the widely-perceived standard bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition has yet to officially announce his plan to run as president.

At its first national convention, the Samahang Magdalo also announced the senatorial candidacy of two detained generals – Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin. Four other members are also running for local elective posts, Magdalo said.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Magdalo Party, together with its entire membership and its network of supporting individuals and organizations, hereby endorse the candidacy of (Escudero) for President of the Republic of Philippines in the May 2010 elections," read a resolution signed by its chairman, detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

The group is associated with soldiers facing various charges for their alleged involvement in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the February 2006 alleged coup attempt, and the 2007 Peninsula Manila seige.

At present, Magdalo is a group awaiting accreditation as a political party from the Commission on Elections, according to Magdalo’s secretary general and national spokesperson Ashley Acedillo, a former Air Force lieutenant.

Command vote?

Escudero, for his part, welcomed Magdalo’s endorsement. “I am honored by the overwhelming support I have received from Samahang Magdalo, a group I consider to have consistently represented the people’s burning desire for change in our country."

“With our new found unity, it is my fervent hope that we usher in a new brand of leadership in the country. One that will be more responsive to the needs of the people. One that will put an end to a cycle of corruption and exploitation," he added.

He then expressed his “unqualified support" for the group. This is despite Escudero’s delay in announcing his 2010 electoral plans, expected on or around his birthday on October 10, in deference to victims of cyclones “Ondoy" and “Pepeng".

Acedillo said 53.7 percent of the group’s 40,000 members nationwide picked Escudero as their most preferred presidential aspirant. Escudero edged out Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., Senator Manuel Villar Jr., and former President Joseph Estrada in what Acedillo said was a “nationwide consultation" among Magdalo’s members.

Escudero was picked according to the group’s three criteria, namely: character, vision, and leadership.

With the group’s expected increase in membership as the 2010 election draws nearer, Acedillo said they hope they could deliver a “command vote" in the forthcoming elections. For the meantime, Acedillo said the group would continue strengthening its numbers.

GMANews.TV tried to get the administration’s reaction, but Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and presidential political adviser Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD secretary general Gabriel Claudio could not be reached.

Entering the political ring

In a statement, Trillanes said that the group decided to participate in the 2010 elections to ensure that the next leader would embody integrity and rid the country of corruption.

“Nagpasya tayo na mag-endorso ng kandidato sa pagka-Pangulo ng Pilipinas upang masiguro natin na hindi na muling mapupunta sa masamang kamay ang pamamahala ng ating bayan (We decided to endorse a candidate for the presidency of the Philippines so we can ensure that the administration of our country will no longer fall into the wrong hands as before)," said the statement read by Acedillo before the party’s 600 members who attended the convention.

Acedillo, however, added that part of the reasons why they decided to throw their hat into the political ring was to introduce their group to the public. “Ito na rin po ang pagpapakilala natin sa taong-bayan (This also serves to introduce our group to the people)," he said during the convention.

Detained officials

Described as a “political and social movement advocating reform and fighting corruption," the Samahang Magdalo was founded by 15 former junior military officers and chaired by Sen. Trillanes, who is in detention and facing charges of mutiny and sedition in connection with the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the November 2007 Peninsula Manila standoff.

During Sunday’s convention, the group announced that the following would run for the following positions:

# Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim for senator

# Marine Col. Ariel Querubin for senator

# Former Navy Lt. Senior Grade James Layug for Taguig City representative, 2nd district

# Former Marine Capt. Gary Alejano for mayor of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental

# Army Capt. Dante Langkit for Kalinga representative, lone district

# Former Air Force 1Lt. Ashley Acedillo for Cebu City respresentative, 1st district

The two senatorial bets – Lim and Querubin – are also detained.

Lim is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City on rebellion charges in connection with the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, which he and Trillanes led.

He is also facing mutiny charges before a military court for allegedly leading a planned withdrawal of support from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Feb. 24, 2006.

Querubin, a decorated Marine officer, was detained after figuring in a standoff at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in February 2006.

Both Lim and Querubin were founders of the Young Officers Union (YOU), another military reformist group that joined forces with the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) headed by then Col. Gregorio Honasan in staging the bloodiest coup attempt in December 1989 against the administration of then President Corazon Aquino.