Ocampo dares Noynoy to substantiate reform agenda
As chairperson of the Makabayan Coalition, Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said he welcomes Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino Jr.’s declaration of preparedness and willingness to run for the presidency in 2010, however, he also challenged him to substantiate his statement that he will push for and carry a reform agenda as his platform of governance;
“It is a positive development that he has come to terms with what is being viewed to be a clamor for his involvement in the presidential race, and his candidacy without doubt makes the fight for the presidency even more interesting,” he said in a press statement sent to media.
However, Ocampo said it necessary that Aquino clearly defines the parameters and the substance of his reform agenda.
“Other presidential contenders have delivered the same line and issued the same promise that they too, are agents of change and reform; but none of them have given any specifics,” he explained.
“Even as we acknowledge the positive meaning of this call for change, it is still imperative that this ‘change’ they speak of be determined in more concrete terms lest the word ‘change’ be reduced to nothing more than an empty rallying call, a mere electioneering slogan,” Ocampo added.
Even now, Ocampo said the Filipinos seek to know Sen. Aquino’s stand on people’s pressing issues: wage hikes and job security; genuine land reform; cancellation of odious foreign debts; assertion of national interests vis-à-vis demands of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and globalization; termination of VFA and the deepening US military involvement; dismantling of political dynasties; a stop to the counter-insurgency strategy that targets civilian activists; and the prosecution of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her ilk who committed grave crimes against the people.
Makabayan according to Ocampo is one with the rest of the Filipino people in urging the political opposition to unite on the basis of a clear socio-economic and political reform agenda. At this juncture, it is urgent that the opposition present a united political front, push for genuine social reforms and for a clean, patriotic and democratic government.