It is perfectly understandable for Manuel F. Almario (Inquirer, 5/12/12) to take a cynical outlook on our electoral process and the political parties that participate in it. We have had a rather long and sad history as a people, where our political leaders, especially the traditional type, have served their own and the socio-economic elite’s interests ahead of the nation’s.
But every now and then, in the course of our political struggles against tyranny, oppression, injustice and corruption, there comes a political party that stands and fights for people’s rights. In 1978, Laban emerged under the leadership of the martyred Ninoy Aquino as a small but defiant party which challenged the Marcos KBL monolith. Laban merged with PDP to become PDP-Laban and pursued the struggle for democracy and freedom.
In the late 1990s, the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) was formed to serve as a vehicle for the pro-poor candidacy of Erap Estrada who was eventually given one of the highest mandates by the Filipino electorate. After his ouster from power, President Erap and his PMP leaders came to be among the staunchest opponents of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime.
In the aftermath of the 2004 elections when the late Fernando Poe Jr. was cheated, the genuine opposition forces formed the United Opposition (UNO) to lead in the struggle against the Arroyo regime. PDP-Laban and PMP formed the backbone of UNO.
It is important to point out these historical developments if only to give context and perspective to the evolution of UNO into the alliance we now call United Nationalist Alliance or UNA. The formal coming together of PDP-Laban and PMP in preparation for the forthcoming elections is actually rooted in the common experience of these two small but indomitable political parties in our people’s fight for democracy, human rights, the interests of the masses, and good governance. The principles, programs and track record of UNO, PDP-Laban, and PMP are what now animate UNA in its bid to become the dominant political alliance of the future.
UNA is not oppositionist to the present administration of President Aquino. But it is not part of the Liberal Party which is now the ruling party.
UNA intends to keep the integrity and independence of its component political parties. It will seek to enhance and strengthen the governance of President Aquino outside his own political party. UNA maintains its autonomy from government to enable it to fiscalize and constructively criticize the present administration while throwing its support behind it. In the future, UNA can build on the gains of President Aquino and provide strong leadership for the country’s progress and well-being.
—JV BAUTISTA,
spokesman,
United Nationalist Alliance,
media.una@gmail.com