MANILA, Philippines — The Black and White Movement on Tuesday launched a campaign against more than 70 congressional candidates, including boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and the two sons of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Group convener Vicente Romano said the campaign is aimed at ensuring that a future impeachment bid against Ms Arroyo would succeed.
“We can campaign against known GMA (Arroyo’s initials) lackeys to send a strong statement that we disapprove of her governance,” said Romano.
The group presented an alternative list of candidates — 49 House bets and 11 party-list groups, who they said had the “moral courage” to stand up against the administration.
The Black and White Movement said its separate black and white lists would “provide an opportunity for our countrymen to express their indignation” over issues like corruption, election fraud and extra-judicial killings.
The group wants to change the composition of the administration-dominated House of Representatives by discouraging voters from electing administration officials.
Of the 74 candidates running for House seats, the Black and White Movement identified 12 that they intend to campaign against.
These are: Matias Defensor (Quezon City), Erwin Genuino (Makati City), Jose de Venecia (Pangasinan), Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo (Pampanga), Renato Unico (Camarines Norte), Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal-Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Raul Gonzales Jr. (Iloilo City), Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo (Negros Occidental), Michelle Tagarda-Spiers (Cagayan de Oro), Manny Pacquiao (South Cotabato) and Virgilio Garcillano (Bukidnon).
Instead of electing these candidates, the Black and White Movement endorsed their opponents: Danton Remoto (Quezon City), Abigail Binay (Makati City), Benjamin Lim (Pangasinan), Joey Montemayor (Pampanga), Liwayway Vinzons Chato (Camarines Norte), Sabas Mabulo (Camarines Sur), Cholo Roco (Aksyon), Benjie Gingos (Iloilo City), Apolinario Lozada (Negros Occidental), Tony Soriano (Cagayan de Oro) Darlene Antonino-Custodio (South Cotabato), Malou Acosta (Bukidnon).
Those blacklisted include candidates close to the administration. Defensor is the father of Mike Defensor, a senatorial candidate. Mikey and Dato Arroyo are sons of the President, while Iggy Arroyo is the President’s brother-in-law.
Erwin Genuino, son of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Efraim Genuino, will be running against Abigail Binay, daughter of Makati City Mayor and United Opposition leader Jejomar Binay.
The Black and White Movement also listed 12 party-list groups on the black list and 11 on the white list.
On the black list are COOP NATCCO, Bantay Bayan, Kakusa, Aksa, Alagad, AGBIAG, APEC, Butil, AVE, Akbay Pinoy, ALIF and Babae Ka.
On its white list are Akbayan, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Partidong Manggagawa, Gabriela, Kabataan, A Teacher, AMIN, Sanlakas, CIBAC, and Minero.
Asked if they also prepared lists for senatorial candidates, Romano answered in the negative.
“We’ve decided not to come out with an official black-list-white list. We support the platform of the GO [Genuine Opposition] but we leave it to the individual members of the convenors to campaign for and to endorse certain candidates,” he said.
But a member of the group, who refused to be named, disclosed that the reason why they had no official stand on the senatorial candidates was because a lot of its members were not inclined to support all those from GO like former senators Loren Legarda, John Osme?a, and Anna Dominique “Nikki” Coseteng.
Some of them were more inclined to support independent candidates like Senator Francis Pangilinan and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.
One thing is sure though, the Black and White Movement will not endorse any senatorial candidate from the administration’s Team Unity ticket, according to member Karen Ta?ada. Reports from Kristine L. Alave of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Maila Ager of INQUIRER.net
