Marcos seeks coalition based on 'ideology'

From The Manila Times -

(UPDATES) AS part of his quest to forge a strong coalition for the 2025 midterm elections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the signing of an alliance between his political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and the National Unity Party (NUP), the fourth political group to join the "Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines)."

Marcos, PFP chairman, witnessed the signing of a partnership that was "more than a political maneuver for the 2025 elections."

In his speech during the event in Makati City, the President said the alliance between the PFP and NUP was "not a marriage of convenience" with the single-minded goal of dominating next year's polls but an "ideology."

"As the party alliances, especially on an individual basis, can be seen as merely marriages of convenience. And, once again, since we are bringing all of disparate forces together — not so disparate, but separate forces together — we will again be seen and commented upon and said to be another marriage of convenience," Marcos said.

"So, that is why I think that we are making a very important change in the thinking, in the politics of the Philippines. That is based not on political expediency but on ideology. And what is the ideology that we are espousing? We speak now of unity, we speak now of Bagong Pilipinas, bringing the country, transforming the country to another place to a better place than we had found it," he said.

Marcos said that although there might be political forces that could impede the achievement of that goal, the alliance would serve as a mechanism to settle contradictions and differences and present a united front.

"Of course, there are political forces that get in the way, but that is the whole point of these alliances that we are making. That is the whole point because we now formalize and put together a mechanism," he said.

The President said if there were contradictions or differences, there was a method for resolutions "without going to extreme, undertaking extreme measures, like moving away from the party, running as independent, both allies fighting against each other politically."

He said that more than just supporting each other in the next election, the newly-formed alliance built a common purpose and consensus of making the Philippines a "better place."

"We are uniting behind the dream of transforming the Philippines and that dream will be achieved by unity. So, congratulations on joining that ideology, for believing in that ideology. It is the only way that we will make our country the country that the Filipinos deserve," Marcos said.

The NUP is the fourth major political party to sign an alliance with Marcos' PFP.

Led by party Chairman Ronaldo Puno, the NUP was founded in 2010 by former members of Lakas-Kampi CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats).

Since 2016, the NUP has also been part of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)-led coalition in the House of Representatives, the so-called Coalition for Change supporting former president Rodrigo Duterte.

About a hundred members of PFP and NUP, composed of governors, vice governors, local government officials and lawmakers, attended and witnessed the event.

The PFP was represented by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, and PFP President South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.

The NUP was represented by Puno, NUP President Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia.

The PFP in May signed an accord with Lakas-CMD, the biggest party in the House with 100 members, and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Apart from the NUP, the Lakas-CMD and NPC, the Nacionalista Party also threw its hat into the PFP ring.

During the 2022 national elections, the PFP joined forces with Lakas-CMD, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional group headed by then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino and guest candidates from different parties to form the UniTeam alliance. The coalition worked as it saw Marcos and his running mate, Duterte, win the polls by a landslide.

The latest addition to the PFP comes more than a week after Duterte, whose Hugpong ng Pagbabago was part of the "UniTeam" in the 2022 national elections, resigned as education secretary and vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Conflict (NTF-Elcac) — a move which analysts said ended the alliance that gave Marcos and Duterte the presidency and vice presidency.

'Logical conclusion'

Meanwhile, Villafuerte said the PFP-NUP alliance was the "logical conclusion" of the party's two-year working partnership with the administration.

In a speech during the signing ceremony, Villafuerte, the president of NUP, said that the partnership served as a "splendid opportunity for both parties, along with other like-minded groups, to work together on advancing a Bagong Pilipinas that promises a robust and inclusive growth and development for all Filipinos."

He also said that the alliance marked another "watershed" in the history of Philippine electoral politics and "best illustrates that true-blue members of different mainstream political parties, given the right motivation or inspiration, can transcend partisan politics or personal interests in pursuit of the long-aspired genuine transformation of our public governance, our economy, and our society."

NEW ALLIANCE President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) witnesses the signing of the alliance between the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and National Unity Party (NUP) in a ceremony dubbed 'Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas' in Makati City on June 29, 2024. (From left) Signing were Congressman Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, PFP deputy majority leader; Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., PFP national vice president; South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., PFP national president; NUP Chairman Ronaldo V. Puno; Congressman Luis Raymundo E. Villafuerte Jr., NUP president; and Congressman Albert Raymond S. Garcia, NUP secretary general. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN AND NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/PPA POOL

Villafuerte said the NUP "shared the President's vision for a prosperous and peaceful Bagong Pilipinas where no Filipino is left behind."

He said that their commitment to the alliance was based on a conviction that "Bagong Pilipinas" was not just a mere slogan but a genuine agenda to transform the economy, governance and society.

"We are having a formal alliance with the PFP because the NUP is ready and willing to do the hard work that our President needs from all of us Filipinos for Bagong Pilipinas to become a reality. With this formal alliance, we in the NUP say: Onward Bagong Pilipinas, Onward with better lives for all Filipinos," Villafuerte said.

NUP Chairman and former local government secretary Ronaldo Puno said that the alliance reaffirmed their commitment to putting the interests of people above all else.

"This alliance is a testament to our collective dedication to serving the needs of every Filipino citizen. Together, we are stronger, the more resilient and better equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead." Puno said.

Aside from Puno and Villafuerte, key NUP officials who attended the event were NUP Vice Chairmen Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales 2nd, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas.

For more, check out The Manila Times.