DETAINED senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the Magdalo group’s support of Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar came after Liberal Party Benigno Aquino Jr. spurned them.
Responding to a Facebook query why the reformist group of young military officers endorsed Villar, Trillanes said, “The group reached out to the Noynoy camp and, sadly, after weeks of waiting, they said they cannot guarantee that we would be able to serve in their administration.”
Trillanes is chairman of the Magdalo group of young reformist military officers who first made a stand against Gloria Arroyo in what is known as the “Oakwood munity” on July 27, 2003. They figured in another stand against Arroyo on Nov. 29, 2007. He remains in detention with 16 other officers of the group at the Camp Crame custodial center.
A source, who asked not to be named, said, “Aquino resented it the Magdalo first chose to endorse Chiz Escudero over him despite his statement during the declaration of his candidacy in September 2009 that Trillanes should not be in prison.”
The Magdalo group first endorsed Escudero, who later quit from the presidential race.
Last week, Magdalo Spokesman Ashley Acedillo said the Magdalo is endorsing Villar for president and Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas for vice president.
Acedillo said the group’s endorsement of Villar was based on the following three conditions they set which the NP candidate accepted:
- He will not enter into an alliance with President Arroyo.
- He will pursue the Magdalo advocacy on poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, peace in Mindanao, and reform and modernization of the Armed Forces.
- He will allow other detained Magdalo members to serve in government.
Acedillo, who is running for congressman in the North district of Cebu said the decision was reached after consultations with their 400 national and local chapters with 55,000 members nationwide.
Aside from Villar and Roxas the Magdalo drew up their own senatorial ticket with candidates coming from different parties: Col. Ariel Querubin (NP), Sen. Pia Cayetano (NP), Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.(NP), Susan Ople (NP), Gilbert Remulla (NP), Adel Tamano (NP), Brig. Gen. Danny Lim (LP), Rep. Ruffy Biazon (LP), Tito Sotto (NP), JV Bautista (PMP), and Jose de Venecia III (PMP).
Acedillo said the Magdalo would like to stress that its endorsement of Villar and Roxas does not mean that it is considering their opponents as enemies. “Sina President Erap Estrada, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, Sen. Loren Legarda at Mayor Jojo Binay ay mga mabubuting tao at sila ay mga kaibigan ng Magdalo at mananatiling kaibigan sa kabila ng pag-endorsong ito,” he said.
Lim, who is also detained in Camp Crame custodial center with the Magdalo for his participation in the November 2007 incident (He is also facing mutiny charges for his alleged participation in the attempted withdrawal of support from Arroyo in February 2006) issued the following statement:
“I have always insisted on doing the right thing. One of these is to defend the right to choose. I respect the Magdalo’s right to choose a candidate different from my own choice. I have always felt an affinity for my brothers in arms. It is this affinity and our common purpose and principles that led us to Manila Pen on Nov 29, 2007. I am grateful that they have endorsed my candidacy and have pledged to continue to do so. However their support for Senator Manny Villar’s presidency runs counter to my present situation having been adopted and supported by another party.”