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26
Feb
Joey III ‘humbled but energized’ by Magdalo support
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino senatorial bet Joey de Venecia III yesterday said he is “humbled but energized by the decision of Grupong Magdalo to endorse my candidacy on the basis of the issues I hold dear.”
The reformist group within the Armed Forces of the Philippines recently endorsed the IT businessman and ZTE-national broadband network whistleblower’s bid for a senate seat, his first try at politics.
“Magdalo’s support strengthens my resolve to bring my fight for clean government to the Senate, along with our advocacy to genuinely uplift the lives of the poorest of the poor,” de Venecia said.
The son and namesake of former Speaker Jose de Venecia said he is “passionately committed to harnessing information technology to help empower our masses. We must not only bring down telecommunications cost but democratize access to IT by bringing the Internet to all our homes.”
The young de Venecia said he “will also work strenuously to restore professionalism in our uniformed services.”
“We must bring honor back to Philippine soldiery by genuinely insulating it from partisan politics and exploitation by traditional politicians.”
Our soldiers “are at the frontlines protecting our national security and are continually exposed to the suffering of the masses, “ de Venecia noted.
“We must therefore, therefore, make sure we adequately minister to their needs in the field and enable them to perform their duties with compassion and commitment to the rule of law.
De Venecia said, “this is my solemn covenant with the gallant Filipino fighting men and women.”
If elected senator, de Venecia promised to do everything possible to allow Magdalo founder and detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to attend Senate sessions. “He is an elected senator of the republic and should be allowed to perform his duties as such,” according to de Venecia.
He also said that he would push for the accreditation of the Magdalo Party, which was denied by the Commission on Elections last year.
Grupong Magdalo is fielding two senate bets this year, Gen Danilo Lim and Col Ariel Querubin. Gen Lim is a guest candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, of which de Venecia is a card-carrying member.
Four other Magdalo members are seeking local seats, with three seeking seats in the House of Representatives, namely group spokeman Lt. Ashley Acedillo (first district of Cebu), Capt. Dante Langkit (Kalinga province), and Lt. James Layug (Taguig City). Another member, Capt. Gary Alejano, is running for mayor of Sipalay City.
De Venecia wished the Magdalo members — all political neophytes like himself — the best of luck in their respective bids.
“We are all like Davids fighting Goliaths in our respective political battles,” said de Venecia, “But the biblical tale also reminds us of one saying; the bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
An IT businessman of more than two decades — he is also known as the father of the Philippine call center industry — de Venecia became known nationwide more than two years ago when he exposed the graft-tainted ZTE-NBN deal which would have cost Filipino taxpayers P16 billion in government guaranteed loans.
De Venecia’s testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee forced President Arroyo to cancel the contract.
