Tuesday, April 17, 2007

BWM blacklists Arroyos, 21 other admin bets in House

Twelve candidates and 12 party-list groups identified with the Arroyo adminis-tration were placed on the Congress blacklist by the Black and White Movement (BWM) on Tuesday.

The group during the launching of its “black list-white list” campaign at the Club Filipino in San Juan also named 12 individuals and 11 party-list organizations seeking congressional seats to support in the May 14 elections.

It, however, failed to include senatorial aspirants from either the opposition or the administration.

The Black and White Movement said the objective of the campaign would be to elect at least 79 individuals of “moral courage” in the House of Representatives who would exact accountability from the President for the unabated corruption, extra-judicial killings and the alleged cheating in 2004 through impeachment.

“It’s simple, we’ll vote and campaign for candidates in the white list and we’ll campaign against those in the black list,” it added.

Those who have been thumbed down by Black and White include Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of Pampanga and Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, sons of

President Arroyo; and Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, the Chief Executive’s brother-in-law.

Also placed on the blacklist are world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao,

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., former Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano, Representatives Luis Villafuerte Camarines Sur) , Matias Defensor (Quezon City), Renato Unico Camarines Norte), Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Iloilo City), incumbent Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda-Spiers; and Erwin Genuino, son of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Efraim Genuino.

The party-list groups banned by the group were Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano Inc., Akbay Pinoy, Aksa, Alagad, ALIF, APEC, AVE, Babae Ka, Bantay Bayan, Butil, COOP NATCCO and Kakusa.

The young Genuino is running for congressman against Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay’s daughter, Abigail, in the second district of the city while Spiers is running against former Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Tony Soriano.

The young Binay, Soriano, incumbent South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, former Rep. Apolinario Lozada, former Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim, Danton Remoto, Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, Dr. Joey Montemayor, incumbent San Fernando Mayor Sabas Mabulo, Cholo Roco, Benjie Gengcos and Malou Acosta have been placed on the white list.

The 11 party-list organizations that the group is supporting include Akbayan, Anakpawis, AMIN, A Teacher, Bayan Muna, CIBAC, Gabriela, Kabataan, Partidong Manggagawa, Minero and Sanlakas.

The group said it would actively campaign for and against those on the lists through the Internet and its network of grassroots organizations.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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