MANILA, Philippines—The first of a number of “serious” aspirants to the presidency has formally declared his intention to seek the No. 1 post with the blessings of Catholic bishops.
Ang Kapatiran standard-bearer John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, his running mate Dominador Chipeco Jr., and the party’s seven senatorial candidates filed their certificates of candidacy (CoC) Monday afternoon at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila.
“The Filipino people are fed up with traditional politics and we’re the only game in town when it comes to alternative politics. We have a good chance of winning,” De los Reyes, who turns 40 on Feb. 14, told reporters.
He echoed Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales’ lament that even if the May 2010 elections were fully automated, the Philippine political system would remain rotten if Filipinos continued to vote for traditional politicians.
“Enough is enough. Something ought to be done to free Filipinos from corrupt, dirty and unproductive political parties,” said De los Reyes, a former councilor of Olongapo City.
“If we win, we are in for reforms and to transform politics. If not, then at least we would have sown the seeds that will be reaped by our children and grandchildren,” he said.
Mass first
De los Reyes and his party mates attended the noon Mass at Sta. Cruz Church in Manila before proceeding to the Comelec office.
The Mass was celebrated by Rosales, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias on the request of Ang Kapatiran party founder Nandy Pacheco and president Eric Manalang.
But Manalang denied it was a tacit endorsement from the Church leaders: “We found it appropriate that we have their blessing, which is important to us because we are going on a mission. [Rosales] blessed us like any father would bless his children.
“It’s a simple blessing. I don’t think it’s endorsing. He did not say ‘vote for us.’”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as a body has been careful not to endorse or disapprove of specific candidates. But individual bishops have spoken out against those taking a position contrary to that of the Church, such as in the debate over House Bill No. 5043 (or the Reproductive Health Bill).
In his homily, Rosales stressed the importance of making the right choices despite the planned use of voting machines for the first time in the May 2010 elections.
He said automation was not the solution to the country’s political woes.
“It’s easy to count rotten votes. What is more important is that we teach people to think over their choices, study them and pray over them. These are the votes that should be counted by the automated machines,” Rosales said.
“You see, the solution is not in the machine; it is what is in the minds and hearts of the people,” he said.
Said De los Reyes: “I think the message from our shepherds of the Church is a general message. But they have affection for Ang Kapatiran because we are a response to their call for the laity to be faithful to their mission in renewing politics according to gospel values.”
Good luck
After the Mass, De Los Reyes, Chipeco and the other Ang Kapatiran candidates stood before the altar as Rosales, flanked by Arguelles and Tobias, gave his blessings for them to enjoy good health, remain steadfast and continue doing good.
Arguelles later said in a brief interview that he wished the Ang Kapatiran candidates good luck even as he acknowledged their slim chances to win in the elections.
The party has been dubbed the “Catholic” political party. But De los Reyes said it also had many Christian and Muslim members.
He said it was running on a platform of “radical” and “transformative” politics that would abolish the graft-ridden pork barrel system, do away with entrenched political dynasties, impose gun control, and “remove all forms of gambling.”
“We are introducing prophetic politics, something that is radical and controversial and requires self-sacrifice,” De los Reyes said.
“And for that to happen, we must do the opposite of what traditional politicians are doing,” he said.
Dynasties
De los Reyes said he and Chipeco, a lawyer, were scions of political dynasties but were determined to flesh out the anti-dynasty provisions in the 1987 Constitution if they win.
“We come from dynasties. I’m a nephew of [Sen. Richard] Gordon. I’m a Gordon. He is a Chipeco,” De los Reyes said.
“But if anyone is to make a sacrifice for the country, it’s us who are in power now. Even if the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-dynasty provisions of the Constitution are put in place and we are swept away, it would be OK for us,” he said.
De los Reyes’ parents are the late Sonny de los Reyes, who served as president of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines for nine years, and Barbara Gordon, elder sister of Senator Gordon and Olongapo Mayor James Gordon Jr.
A product of Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, he obtained a degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, reputed to be one of the most orthodox Catholic universities in the United States.
In 1993, he taught philosophy at the then Center for Research and Communication (now the University of Asia and the Pacific). He ran for and was elected councilor of Olongapo two years later, but did not seek reelection.
He completed a law degree at Saint Louis University in Baguio City in 2005.
In 2007, De los Reyes emerged the lone winner of Ang Kapatiran, again as Olongapo councilor. He chaired the city council’s committee on human rights and filed a number of graft cases against certain local officials.
He and his wife Dunia Valenzuela have three children.
Senatorial slate
Ang Kapatiran’s senatorial slate includes social scientist Rizalito David, lawyers Jo Aurea Imbong and Zosimo Paredes, consumer advocate Adrian Sison, Councilor Reginald Tamayo, educator Hector Tarrazona, and former United Nations executive Manuel Valdehuesa Jr.
“Many are telling us, ‘You don’t have the money. You don’t have the money.’ We have the money, but we don’t have the billions that our enemies have. If they say that billions are needed to win, then let us forget about changing our country,” De los Reyes said.
Outside the Comelec office, some Ang Kapatiran members paraded wearing masks a la Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival with the slogans “Vote in Common Good,” “Vote out graft and corruption,” “Vote in pro-environment.”
Ang Kapatiran fielded three candidates in the 2007 Senate elections. They all lost, but each garnered an average of 800,000 votes.
“We’re coming back with much passion. We believe and we have hope that Ang Kapatiran will really make an impact on Filipino politics,” De los Reyes said.
Kapatiran’s JC de los Reyes files CoC for presidency
Posting Permissions
