THIS REFERS to the full-page advertisement that came out in the Inquirer’s June 6 issue.
The ad, headlined “Election, not selection; autonomy not autocracy” opposed postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Among the signatories, in fact the first on the list of many signatories, was the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
PDP-Laban’s leadership was never consulted about the ad and its content. While we agree with the broad message of the ad, which is to push through with the ARMM elections in August this year as scheduled, we do not agree with some of its particulars and how the message was delivered.
It may be noted that the only authorized signatories for PDP-Laban in support of whatever cause are party chairman Vice President Jejomar Binay, party president lawyer Koko Pimentel, and myself as secretary general. We do, however, allow our members to speak up on issues of national concern without censorship of any kind. But they do so in their personal capacity and not as spokesmen of PDP-Laban.
We hope this clears matters and informs the public accordingly.
—JOSE “JOEY” DE VENECIA III,
national secretary general,
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-
Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban),
721 JP Rizal St.,
Barangay Valenzuela, Makati City