KIKO: KIRAM FORCES THE HAND OF THE GOVERNMENT

MANILA, February 26, 2013-Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan joins President Benigno Aquino in appealing to Jamalul Kiram III to put an end to the standoff in Sabah.

"This standoff has reached a critical point where the Philippine government must now act decisively and do what is necessary to protect the general interest of the Filipino people," says Pangilinan, a peace advocate. "Kiram is essentially declaring war on Malaysia. He must understand that it has never been a policy of the Philippines to take on other countries by force. Regardless of Sulu's rightful claim to Sabah, an armed invasion will unlikely lead to an amicable resolution."

Pangilinan says that the Philippines' ties with Malaysia take precedence over contested claims. 

"This has come at a time when we are so close to achieving lasting peace with our brothers from the South. Malaysia has played a crucial role in brokering talks between the Philippine government and our Muslim brothers in Mindanao. We cannot afford to have a wedge between our country and Malaysia because of one person's whim."

KIKO: LATEST SWS SURVEY UNDERSCORES PINOYS' CLAMOR FOR CHANGE

MANILA, February 26, 2013-Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today states that the latest results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of the leading candidates for the 2013 midterm elections is highly indicative of the people's support for President Benigno Aquino III's continued push for good governance and economic stability. 

"Needless to say, we are very pleased with the results of the SWS survey," says Pangilinan, who was the campaign manager of the Liberal Party's senatorial slate in 2010. "It shows that the Aquino administration has been very credible in pushing for reforms, thanks to the very tangible changes happening today."

"We are particularly pleased with Bam Aquino's big jump in this survey," Pangilinan adds.

Pangilinan has been vocal for his "all-out support" for Bam Aquino, who with him co-founded the highly prestigious annual search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, the premier recognition program for Filipino youth organizations. The young Aquino was also a Commissioner, then Chairman of the National Youth Commission when Pangilinan was then one of the youngest newly elected senators in 2001.

"Bam personifies the next generation of leaders. He is full of passion and is totally committed to bringing prosperity from the grassroots. He is a true agent of change. We need to have somebody like him to be in a position where he may be able to contribute greatly to the 'Daang Matuwid' of the Aquino administration."

Legarda Highlights Priorities for Next Term in CDO Sortie

MANILA, February 26, 2013-In her visit to Cagayan de Oro, Senator Loren Legarda, senatorial candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), discussed her priorities should she win another term in the Senate.

“Healthcare is number one. I will finish the Universal Healthcare Bill. I will make sure it is enacted into law and that it will be implemented for the 25 million poorest Filipinos,” said Legarda, principal author of the bill.

“Our aim is to ensure that no mother has to lose a child from sickness because she could not afford to bring her son or daughter to the hospital; no husband has to lose his wife from giving birth because she was not able to access healthcare services; no child has to lose an ailing parent due to lack of resources for hospitalization. Once we have the Universal Healthcare Law, all families can avail of Philhealth benefits even after many presidents and congresses have passed. This will be an important legacy to the Filipinos,” she stressed.

Another priority of the Senator is the expansion of scholarship programs for indigent but deserving college students.

“I will review the scholarship programs of our state universities and colleges (SUCs) and I want to expand the scholarship base to give focus on agriculture, science and technology, environment, and possibly disaster science, because those are the courses that our people would need,” Legarda said.

“We will make sure that the more than three million families that are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will have at least one college graduate educated through a scholarship program,” she added.

The Senator also said she will continue to look after the welfare of senior citizens.

“We have worked hard for the passage of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act to ensure that our elderly Filipinos will be able to access the full twenty percent discount on medicines, food, services and other purchases. We have to look after the welfare of our senior citizens who have already shared their skills, talent and energy for meaningful work, programs and advocacies for the nation,” Legarda explained.

“Healthcare, education, and the general welfare of our citizens—these are my priorities. I am hopeful for a new term, which I will use for all the work that still needs to be done for our citizens and for our country,” Legarda concluded.

Cory magic seen in Team PNoy’s survey lead

MANILA, February 26, 2013-A day after the nation commemorated the 27^th year of the EDSA People Power revolution, the so-called Cory Magic must be working all over again.

Thus declared Team PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin Drilon Tuesday/Feb. 26 in reaction to the latest Social Weather Stations-Business World survey showing an overwhelming 9 to 3 advantage for the administration coalition in the race for 12 Senate seats.

“It’s 1986 all over again. The SWS-Business World survey is an affirmation of the people’s support for the Liberal Party-led coalition and its platform of government anchored on clean government, inclusive growth, and peace and security all over the country,” Drilon said.

Cory Magic was the term attributed to former President Corazon Aquino, who was catapulted into power after the 1986 EDSA revolt and whose endorsement of the administration slate led to a near sweep of the 1987 senatorial elections.

Her son, Benigno Simeon Aquino III was believed to have been lifted to the presidency in 2010 by the same Cory Magic. The incumbent President is now endorsing the candidacies of the administration coalition candidates.

The Feb. 15-17 nationwide poll taken after campaigning officially began showed Team PNoy candidates occupying the first six places.

Reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda is on top with 64 percent followed by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero 62 percent, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano 58 percent, Cynthia Villar 53 percent, and Grace Poe and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel tied for fifth and sixth with 48 percent each.

The opposition’s Nancy Binay was on seventh with 47 percent followed by Team PNoy’s Sen. Antonio Trillanes at eighth with 46 percent.

It’s a toss up between the administration’s Benigno Bam Aquino and United Nationalist Alliance’s JV Ejercito for ninth and 10^th positions, both with 42 percent. Team PNoy’s Sonny Angara and UNA’s Juan Miguel Zubiri occupy the 11^th and 12^th places with 39 percent.  

Drilon pointed out that the respondents’ preference of the Team PNoy candidates manifests the political maturity of the Filipino people “that they are able to see the deep margin of difference between the Team PNoy coalition and the other political candidates.”

“This latest vote of confidence on the candidates personally handpicked by President Aquino himself also focuses attention on the great political tasks awaiting them once they are formally elected into office. The Team PNoy candidates will continue to vigorously uphold the clean government advocacy of the President, his desire to use his last remaining three years in office to decisively reduce poverty, to considerably improve social services such as equitable access to education and health, among others,” Drilon said.

Team PNoy spokesman Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo meanwhile expressed elation over the survey results, saying it’s a clear trend towards a Team PNoy victory in theMay 13 elections.

“What’s significant is that the Team PNoy candidates who are not in the Magic 12 are closely within striking distance.” Quimbo pointed out.

“The results are not at all surprising. It shows that PNoy's program of Tuwid na Daan continues to be relevant in the minds of the electorate and that the latter associates the program with the individuals selected by the President to be part of his team. It also validates that a campaign based on a clear message supported by track-record is preferred by the people,” he said. 

The poll results, he added, also shows the people's clear rejection of the opposition's campaign strategy to use personality attacks and smear campaign tactics against the administration.

“This should be a wake-up call for them to start talking about their alternative programs instead of just rehashing rumor mill fodder,” Quimbo said.