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Group set to gather 2M signatures by Nov 30 for PNoy’s re-election
By ELIZABETH MARCELO, GMA News
(Updated 3:04 p.m.) The group behind a full-page newspaper ad urging President Benigno Aquino III to seek re-election in 2016 finally came out and said its members are determined to gather an initial two million signatures by November 30, which it will present to the President.
At a press conference on Friday in Quezon City, Atty. Melvin Matibag, the lead convener of the Movement for Reform, Continuity and Momentum (MORE2COME), said that in the next three weeks, the group will formally launch its campaign to gather eight million signatures to encourage Aquino to run again in the 2016 polls.
Also, Matibag said the signature drive will start in Metro Manila but will be launched in the provinces in the coming months.
"Dito muna natin sa Metro Manila uumpisahan. Ang target natin ay makakuha ng two million signatures by November 30, Bonifacio Day, at maipadala ito sa Malacañang," Matibag said.
"We are very confident that we can achieve this initial target," he added.
No ties with LP?
In a full-page paid ad published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Tuesday, MORE2COME announced its campaign to gather eight million signatures to urge Aquino to seek re-election.
The group said Aquino’s re-election is possible by amending the 1987 Constitution, noting that the administration has the numbers in Congress to initiate Charter change.
Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution – which was drafted and approved under the watch of Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino – limits the presidency to a single six-year term.
But in its ad, MORE2COME considered Aquino "the best and only successor," and trumpeted his economic gains.
The ad also said: “As of today, the most visible possible successors are in a bind. One is beset by fatal corruption baggage and the other by perennial low ratings. The others are simply inexperienced.”
Although it did not mention any names, the group's ad could be referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman; and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, whose ratings in poll surveys have been low except in the latest Pulse Asia polls where he ranked second to Binay.
By "inexperienced," the group could be referring to neophyte Senator Grace Poe, who is reportedly being groomed for the 2016 presidential polls.
Of the three, only Binay has expressed intention to seek the highest post in the land in the next elections.
Moreover the ad said: “PNoy must now seek a second term in order to make sure that the country stays coursed on the right road and headed for continued growth and reform.”
He, however, said that Aquino is willing to listen to the concerns of the group “to understand where they are coming from.” — LBG/RSJ, GMA News
At a press conference on Friday in Quezon City, Atty. Melvin Matibag, the lead convener of the Movement for Reform, Continuity and Momentum (MORE2COME), said that in the next three weeks, the group will formally launch its campaign to gather eight million signatures to encourage Aquino to run again in the 2016 polls.
Also, Matibag said the signature drive will start in Metro Manila but will be launched in the provinces in the coming months.
"Dito muna natin sa Metro Manila uumpisahan. Ang target natin ay makakuha ng two million signatures by November 30, Bonifacio Day, at maipadala ito sa Malacañang," Matibag said.
"We are very confident that we can achieve this initial target," he added.
No ties with LP?
During the press conference, MORE2COME co-convenor RJ Echeverri denied speculations that the group has ties with the ruling Liberal Party (LP), insisting their group is composed of private individuals mostly from the law profession.
During the 2013 elections, Echiverri sought the mayoralty post in Caloocan City under the LP. He lost to Oscar Malapitan of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
But on Friday, Echiverri said: "I am no longer part of any political party, When I lost in the (2013) elections, I already have lost contacts with them (LP).
His father, Caloocan Rep. Enrico “Recom” Echiverri is an LP member and a known staunch supporter of Aquino.
“This is a personal decision. My father has nothing to do with this,” the younger Echiverri said.
Matibag, a former general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) during the term of former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, meanwhile said that though they do not have contacts with the administration so far, “any chance for a dialogue with Malacañang in the future will be most welcome.”
Matibag said their group is currently composed of at least about 100 individuals, some of whom are law professors and students.
He also said their funds usually come from donations of private individuals.
“I guarantee you that not even a single centavo from the government fund is being used for our cause,” Matibag said.
Paid ad
Paid ad
In a full-page paid ad published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Tuesday, MORE2COME announced its campaign to gather eight million signatures to urge Aquino to seek re-election.
The group said Aquino’s re-election is possible by amending the 1987 Constitution, noting that the administration has the numbers in Congress to initiate Charter change.
Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution – which was drafted and approved under the watch of Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino – limits the presidency to a single six-year term.
But in its ad, MORE2COME considered Aquino "the best and only successor," and trumpeted his economic gains.
The ad also said: “As of today, the most visible possible successors are in a bind. One is beset by fatal corruption baggage and the other by perennial low ratings. The others are simply inexperienced.”
Although it did not mention any names, the group's ad could be referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman; and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, whose ratings in poll surveys have been low except in the latest Pulse Asia polls where he ranked second to Binay.
By "inexperienced," the group could be referring to neophyte Senator Grace Poe, who is reportedly being groomed for the 2016 presidential polls.
Of the three, only Binay has expressed intention to seek the highest post in the land in the next elections.
Moreover the ad said: “PNoy must now seek a second term in order to make sure that the country stays coursed on the right road and headed for continued growth and reform.”
Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad earlier denied that the LP had anything to do with MORE2COME's signature campaign.
“Hindi naman namin kilala kung sino yung nag-ad na yun...I don’t think we (LP) have anything to do with them,” Abad said.
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