Gibo thanks TUCP, 18 more party-list groups for their support

Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro has thanked the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and 18 more party-list groups for endorsing his candidacy, saying their backing is not just a support for him but a collective commitment to an agenda for genuine change and sustainable national development into the next decade.

“I am humbled by their declaration of support, which is not just an endorsement of my presidential bid but a collective support for a roadmap for genuine change and sustainable growth and development that the next Administration has to carry out with the backing of the various sectors,” Gibo said.

Gibo said TUCP and the other party-list groups deserve to be represented in Congress to ensure that all sectors, most especially the marginalized ones, are adequately heard as the next government seeks a national consensus behind such a roadmap for change and development.

The TUCP, for instance, is the country’s biggest organized labor bloc with a combined nationwide membership of 1.2 million workers spread out across almost 30 federations in all sectors from industry to agriculture.

It is one of the 19 party-list groups that expressed full support for Gibo via a manifesto that they public released in a news conference in Quezon City last Tuesday.

These party-list groups’ endorsement came on the heels of an announcement Sunday night in Davao City by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy “self-appointed Son of God” and founder of the six million-strong Kingdom of Jesus Christ: The Nambe Above Every Name that Gibo should be the country’s next President.

Aside from TUCP, the party list organizations that signed the manifesto were: AT (Aangat Tayo), ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy), Senior Citizens, Ang Kasangga, BANAT (Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency), KAKUSA (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong Na Walang Sala), ABAKADA-Guro, ARC (Alliance for Rural Concerns) and ABS (Arts, Business and Science Professionals).

The pro-Gibo manifesto was also signed by UNI-MAD (United Movement Against Drugs), 1 Utak (1-United Transport Koalisyon), YACAP (You Against Corruption And Poverty), ALAGAD, COOP-NATCCO (Cooperatives-National Confederation of Cooperatives), VFP (Veterans Freedom Party), AA-KASOSYO, and ALIF (Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino).

In the Manifesto of Support, the party-list representatives said they “believed in Gibo’s vision for the country and the Filipino people, and are willing to support him for the realization of his vision.”

They said the former defense secretary possesses the qualities that “we are looking for in a leader to lead us through this nightmare of life.”

Gibo said, “I am particularly humbled by the TUCP endorsement because my late father had such a personal and fruitful relationship with its founder, the esteemed labor leader Democrito Mendoza.”

Mendoza, in an earlier interview in Cebu City, said he is personally vouching for Gibo when the group hosted a lunch for him in one of his sorties in the vote-rich province.

“Gibo is the most qualified to run our country and effect the changes needed for a better Philippines,” Mendoza said.

“Though major labor groups enjoy various statutes under Philippine law, I feel these are not enough. I believe they should also have representation in Congress,” the Harvard-trained lawyer and 1989 bar topnotcher said.

Gibo said earlier that pushing good governance policies, investing in human capital by providing Filipinos with quality education and health care, and completing large-scale infrastructure projects that would interconnect the country’s ports and seaports, would entice more investors to perk up the economy and thereby generate quality and better-paying jobs for Filipinos.

“He alone can mend the factionalism in our public service that is creating havoc in our bureaucracy,” the manifesto said. “He alone can patch up the rift caused by the regionalization of our people, hindering unity and progress.”

The manifesto also took a dig at “questionable survey results”

“We strongly dispute the notion coming from the profit-driven survey firms that the battle for the presidency has been narrowed down to two candidates,” it noted. “The survey results do not truthfully reflect the sentiments of the voting public at the national level.”

The manifesto urged the Filipino people to “vote for the right and most competent candidate who could lead this nation towards greater economic prosperity and social progress.”
“We appeal to our people to join us in the crusade for a better Philippines. Join us now in support of Gibo. His vision is our vision. His mission is our mission,” the 19 party-list groups said in the manifesto. -30-