Ethical politics crusader becomes openly partisan

Five KN ‘champions’ are sicced on

KAYA Natin!, the organization that first began as a project of the Ateneo University’s School of Government to promote ethical politics and good governance, has become openly partisan—while not in the least shedding off its moral crusade. It supports the Liberal Party’s (LP) presidential and vice presidential candidates and those of the LP senatorial candidates who pass Kaya Natin!’s criteria.

It is so vigilant against the alleged movement called “GMA Forever”—a project of President Gloria Arroyo’s allies to keep her as head of government in a Philippines under a parliamentary government—that on Thursday, Kaya Natin! (KN!) called national public attention to and appealed for support to its “Discovery 5” congressional candidates in various parts of the country.

The five are tasked with the KN! mission of, first, denying President Arroyo victory in getting a seat as representative in Pampanga.

Then, if she does win, the four or whoever win congressional seats would be among the anti-“GMA Forever” workers in the House of Representatives.

Kaya Natin!’s Chief Convenor Harvey Keh, of Ateneo’s School of Government, chaired the press briefing.

The five candidates presented on Thursday are:

Adonis Simpao, who is challenging the President’s bid for a House seat in Pampanga.

Mayor Fermin Mabulo, who is fighting the President’s son, Dios-dado Arroyo, in Camarines Sur.

Councilor Jorge “Bolet” Banal of Quezon City who is opposing the seasoned political leader, Mat Defensor.

Civil society leader (Gawad Kalinga activist) in Nueva Ecija Jess Lorenzo, who is fighting well-known House old-timer Rodolfo Antonino.

And Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta of Davao City, who is opposing the son of Speaker Prospero Nograles, lawyer Karlo Nograles. Ms. Acosta’s flight to Manila was delayed so she could not be at the press briefing, despite her being a full-fledged member of Kaya Natin!’s “Discovery 5” band of anti-“GMA Forever warriors.”

Kaya Natin! described

What is Kaya Natin anyway?

This is how the group (whose name has an exclamation mark) describes itself:

“Kaya Natin! is a national movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership which was initially convened by the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG). The initial founders of Kaya Natin! are Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City, Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga. Robredo and Padaca are recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service while Panlilio was a recent awardee of the Gawad Galing Pook Award for Outstanding Local Government Units. Kaya Natin! aims to encourage Filipinos from all walks of life to be proactive citizens in promoting good governance through transparency and social accountability. Besides this, KN! aims to become a leadership sanctuary that provides support to effective, ethical and empowering government leaders in our country. Since it began last year, KN! has already visited more than 70 colleges and universities all over the country.

“Aside from Robredo, Padaca and Panlilio, the current Kaya Natin! Champions of Good Governance and Ethical Leadership include Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Gov. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. of Ifugao, Mayor Fermin Mabulo of San Fernando, Camarines Sur, Mayor Florante Gerdan of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, Mayor Roque Verzosa Jr. of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Mayor Marivic Belena of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Vice Mayor Valente Yap of Bindoy, Negros Oriental, former Mayor Gloria Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and former Mayor Mary Jane Ortega of San Fernando City, La Union.”

Not mentioned is that the chief convenor is Harveh Keh of ASOG.

Subsequently, other political leaders—after screening—were added to the list of KN! champions.

Among these are:

Former Bukidnon first district congressman Neric Acosta, Deputy Minority Floor Leader and Second District of Bukidnon congressman Teofisto “TG” Guingona 3rd, Councilor Jorge “Bolet” Banal of Quezon City, and Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta of Davao City.

For two years now, Kaya Natin! has been holding caravans and meetings all over the country. It has been addressing youth groups, students and assemblies of citizens.

Harvey Keh told The Manila Times that 2010 will be a better year for our country. And Kaya Natin! champion Gov. Panlilio said the “upcoming national and local elections will be the main highlight of the year and is once more an opportunity for Filipinos to elect the right kind of leaders for our country.”

Despite his having been declared to have lost in Pampanga, Among Ed continues being confident “that Filipinos all over our country are now ready to elect effective and ethical government leaders just they did in Pampanga, Isabela and Naga in the past election. But this will only happen if the people are united for good governance,” Gov. Panlilio said in a Manila Times roundtable.

The former priest turned governor also advised the Filipino people to remain vigilant.

“We cannot allow certain groups with vested interests to hijack our democratic right of choosing the kind of leaders in 2010 thus, we hope many Filipinos especially the youth will continue to volunteer for election watch groups such as PPCRV [Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting] and Namfrel [National Citizens Movement for Free Elections] to ensure that an honest and credible election will take place.” He said.

Robredo expressed the same optimism saying that majority of Filipinos now are longing for reforms and genuine change in our country.

Not accredited as a party-list

Kaya Natin! tried but failed to get Commission on Election recognition as a party-list group.

It is thus supporting AHON Pinoy (No. 52 on the ballot).

The Manila Times columnist Eirene Jhone Aguila, a Kaya Natin! Vice president, wrote that “Politically motivated or otherwise, this denial of accreditation to participate in the Party-List System I would like to think of now as a blessing in disguise. A national campaign for a party-list seat in the House would surely take a toll on our resources and divide our efforts now. With several of those we look up to and have identified to be truly champions of the people throwing their hat in the election ring, perhaps the role we are being asked to play now is to help them win in May 2010. This is of course said without giving up hope that the Comelec [Commission on Elections] will see the light, beyond political colors.

“To date, we have 16 champions of good governance and ethical leadership who in their respective positions, regardless of political affiliation, have served their constituents in an exemplary manner. “These are the ones who we, as members of the youth, women, farmer groups, indigenous peoples and young professionals see as examples of the kind of public servants we would like to see more of in government and who fight for our crusade for good governance.

Of the 16, 14 are running—two for senator (Neric Acosta and TG Guingona), four running for district representatives (Teddy Baguilat, Jr.—Ifugao, Fermin Mabulo—Camarines Sur, Mabel Acosta—Davao City, Bolet Banal—Quezon City), three for governor (Among Ed Panlilio—Pampanga, Grace Padaca—Isabela, Florante Gerdan—Nueva Vizcaya), five for mayor (Marivic Belena—San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Sonia Lorenzo—San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Baby Congco—Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Jun Versoza—Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Valentin Yap—Bindoy).”

Now a partisan group?

Because Kaya Natin! is now officially supporting the Liberal Party top candidates, some observers are worried that it has become a partisan group.

They think KN! no loner brings together different factions or party members behind the cause of good governance.

Kaya Natin! has remained that kind of organization, although as far as choosing the LP candidates as its own and LP members Among Ed and Grace Padaca, it has indeed become partisan.

Yet, many of its champions belong to other political parties and continue to be for national candidates different from KN’s choices.

A way of life

The following description of Kaya Natin!, which mentions Among Ed, Grace Padaca and Mayor Robredo, who have all twice appeared at The Times roundtable, holds true still.

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Kaya Natin! is a movement composed of good Filipinos from different sectors of society. It aims to espouse genuine change and ethical leadership in our country. We aim to promote genuine and lasting change in our government by promoting transparency, social accountability, people empowerment and electoral reforms. By upholding these values and principles, it hopes to help make our government and our leaders more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people and enable it to deliver basic services to those who need it most in the most efficient and effective way.

We firmly believe that our government officials should be effective and ethical servant leaders who look not only at the outcomes of programs and projects but also at the processes required for them as well as the values and motives behind them.

Effective and Ethical leaders are those who fight corruption and frown upon abusive practices of those in power while at the same time training future Filipino leaders to do what is right and just despite opposition. These leaders are those whose stands are reflective of their constituents’ beliefs and who do not stand alone but side by side with other good leaders for support.

In order to achieve these goals, Kaya Natin! will focus on the following:
Promoting Electoral Reforms by encouraging the Filipino Youth to register, vote for the right candidates and volunteer their time to ensure clean and honest elections.

Promoting Local Autonomy and Empowerment of local governments by decentralizing the delivery of basic services such as Quality Basic Education.

Working with the Church, other like-minded organizations and civil society groups towards the total eradication of all illegal activities such as graft and corruption in all forms, illegal gambling and illegal logging.

Development and encouragement of ethical and effective young Filipino leaders who will consider to run for public office and/or work in government.

Kaya Natin! believes in the Filipinos’ ability to finally conquer poverty and injustice, to turn hopes into reality and thoughts into action. If you think that sounds impossible, then open your eyes and ears. Kaya Natin! is only the beginning of true progress and development in the Philippines and with the cooperation of every Filipino we can finally have the life worth living for.

Kaya Natin! started through a meeting facilitated by the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government in June 2008 between three of the most inspiring and trustworthy leaders in our country today, namely, Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga, Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City. The movement is open to every Filipino who believes and is willing to work towards promoting genuine change and ethical leadership in our country.

Kaya Natin! is not just a movement but more importantly it’s a way of life. -President’s stalwarts, RENE Q. BAS EDITOR IN CHIEF