MANILA, Philippines — Various civil society groups launched yesterday an online fundraising drive to support the campaign of opposition senatorial candidates under the Otso Diretso banner.
The Para sa Laban ng Otso Diretso (PASALODi) is a crowdsourcing effort that aims to fund the house-to-house persuasion campaign for Otso Diretso bets.
As this developed, an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) bared yesterday that several priests are supporting the opposition senatorial candidates.
The Otso Diretso bets are former senator Mar Roxas, ex-Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay.
The project was initiated by Vicky Garchitorena of Manindigan Na, lawyer Jeric Juban of Team Pilipinas, Nina Yuson of Piso Para Kay Leni campaign and Jozy Nisperos, president of The Silent Majority.
With limited resources, Otso Diretso is heavily relying on volunteers to disseminate their platform, according to the slate’s campaign manager Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
The online fundraising aims to raise P8 million.
“If this was a fight about tarpaulins and TV ads, it’s clear we cannot match that half billion pesos being thrown away or spent by our rivals in the administration,” Pangilinan said during the PASALODi launch in Makati City.
“This (PASALODi) is where we will rely on for our victory in the 2019 elections – our citizens who support, our citizens who will act and stand up for Otso Diretso,” he said.
As of yesterday, the fundraising campaign received almost P400,000 from 166 individuals.
Supporters may send their donations through bank accounts, GCash Transfers or PayPal transactions.
Around 16,000 volunteers have been mobilized nationwide since the start of the campaign in February through Project Makinig, which was initiated by Pangilinan.
He said the coalition aims to increase the number of volunteers to 300,000 across the country.
Priests backing Otso Diretso bets
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, revealed that several dioceses have decided to endorse Otso Diretso bets in the coming elections.
“There will be some dioceses supporting some candidates because they support their track record and advocacies,” he said in an interview.
Gariguez said he was told by fellow priests from these dioceses that they are supporting Diokno, Hilbay, Macalintal, Tañada and Gutoc.
The CBCP official said the dioceses opted to support these candidates despite their apparent low ranking in surveys.
“Winnability is not our basis in choosing who to support. What is important is their platform, track record and character,” he pointed out.
But Gariguez stressed that the bishops and the priests cannot openly show their support to any candidate.
“We agreed that we won’t do it publicly because the Church will continue not to endorse any particular candidate. They can only do it through whispers,” he explained.
Asked if the support for opposition bets means they are against administration candidates, Gariguez said it was not intentional.
“If they get a hold of the Senate, the last pillar of democracy will be lost and President Duterte will already have control over every institution. So this election will be crucial,” he commented.
The CBCP official further bared that he has also not heard fellow priests supporting the three other opposition bets -– Roxas, Aquino and Alejano. ?The Catholic Church traditionally does not endorse candidates during elections.
Stop the attacks
Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, has advised Duterte to “research” on the accomplishments of the Otso Diretso candidates in the face of the Chief Executive’s repeated belittling of the opposition bets.
Robredo, in her Sunday program over radio dzXL, reminded the President of the major contributions of their candidates, most of whom are newbies in politics.
“Some of them have not held any government position and yet have served many people,” the Vice President said.
She said Roxas was instrumental in the boom of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country.
Roxas served as secretary of trade and industry under the Estrada and Arroyo administrations. He was also the principal author of the Cheaper Medicines Act.
Aquino, meanwhile, authored the Free College Education Act and the Go Negosyo Act and fought for the passage of Freedom of Information Act.
She said Diokno served as counsel for the poor for a very long time, while Macalintal continues to fight for the rights and discounts for senior citizens.
Robredo also reminded Duterte of Hilbay’s role in the country’s legal victory against China in the disputed South China Sea.
Alejano, a former Marine captain, had fought terrorists and rebels in southern Mindanao, she said.
Robredo said Gutoc was appointed by Duterte as member of Bangamoro Transition Commission which drafted the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Gutoc, for her part, said the Duterte government should see the drop in Filipinos’ happiness and satisfaction with life as “alarming” as a the country is known for its citizens with happy disposition.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported on Sunday that happiness and satisfaction among Filipinos have dropped to lowest levels in four years.
“We Filipinos are known as happy people, even finding time to laugh in times of tragedy. I saw that as a community organizer in Marawi City and in other war-torn areas,” she said.
Gutoc said the 13 percent of Filipinos who claimed to be “unhappy” and “unsatisfied” in the SWS December 2018 poll says a lot. – With Edu Punay