October 30, 2009, 4:57pm
The Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago (Magdalo) expressed openness on Friday to the idea of adopting Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as their standard bearer in the May 2010 elections.“We’re not closing the door on that idea, although we have yet to formally talk about it,” Magdalo spokesman Ashley Acedillo told reporters in a press briefing.
“We have to know first if he (Escudero) is willing to join us,” he added.
The former serviceman, however, admitted that before they could adopt Escudero, their accreditation should first be reconsidered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Last Monday, the Comelec’s Second Division junked the petition of Magdalo to become a regional political party based in the National Capital Region (NCR), saying the group remains unrepentant for their illegal adventure during the infamous Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
Acedillo called the Comelec’s reason for disqualifying their group unfair and baseless.
“The resolution preempts the Court trying the case, which is now being heard at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148. The resolution unfairly jumped at the conclusion that the founders of the Magdalo ‘employed violence’ and ‘used unlawful means’ and ‘in the process defied the laws of organized society’ during the Oakwood incident when the court hearing the case has yet to issue its ruling,” the group said in a statement.
The Magdalo said this ultimately violates the constitutional provision on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Acedillo then appealed to the Comelec to reconsider its petition once they file their motion for reconsideration next week.
“We are appealing to the Comelec en banc, especially to Comelec Chairman Jose Melo to reconsider (our petition), and if possible, revise their resolution,” he said.
“In fact, it is in the best interest of the country for Comelec to encourage the Magdalo group to join the mainstream of Filipino society and allow it to participate in the democratic process, especially in elections, by approving its application for accreditation as a political party instead of isolating us and pushing us to the fringes by junking our petition,” added Acedillo.
Source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/227167/magdalo-mulls-adopting-chiz-standard-bearer
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