The Philippine Online Chronicles

Military rebel group Magdalo endorsed today presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar (Nacionalista) and vice-presidential candidate Senator Mar Roxas (Liberal).

The endorsement was announced by Magdalo spokesperson Lieutenant Ashley Acedillo in a press conference in San Juan. Acedillo said that Magdalo came up with the endorsement after “a nationwide consultation” with its “55,000 members nationwide.”

Acedillo said that Villar agreed to four conditions—no alliance with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, peace and development in Mindanao, modernization of the military, and the release of Magdalo founder Senator Antonio Trillanes IV—before getting Magdalo's endorsement.

Moreover, Magdalo disclosed its official senatorial endorsements, seven of which come from the Nacionalista Party. They are Magdalo co-founder Brigadier General Danny Lim (Magdalo/Liberal); Marines Colonel Ariel Querubin (Magdalo/Nacionalista); Senator Pia Cayetano (Nacionalista); Senator Jinggoy Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, or PMP); Ilocos Norte Second District Representative Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (Nacionalista); Susan Ople (Nacionalista); Gilbert Remulla (Nacionalista); outgoing Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Adel Tamano (Nacionalista); Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon (Nacionalista); comedian and noontime show host Tito Sotto (Nationalist People's Coalition/Nacionalista); JV Bautista (Sanlakas/PMP); and NBN-ZTE scam whistleblower Joey De Venecia (PMP).

However, General Lim opposed Magdalo's endorsement of Villar.

"I have always insisted on doing the right thing... their support for Senator Manny Villar's presidency runs counter to my present situation having been adopted and supported by another party," Lim said in a statement emailed to The Philippine Online Chronicles. He clarified, though, that he is "grateful" for Magdalo's endorsement of him.

Last February 17, independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas sought Magdalo's endorsement. Last year, Magdalo announced its open support for Senator Francis Escudero if he would pursue a presidential candidacy. Escudero, however, declined to run.

Magdalo, then led by Trillanes and Captain Milo Maestrocampo, rose to fame in the Oakwood Mutiny on 27 July 2003, where the group took over the posh Oakwood Hotel in Makati in protest of the Arroyo regime. In 2006, the Marines wing, led by Querubin and Lim, took a stand in the Marine headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo during the People Power Anniversary in February. On 29 November 2007, Trillanes, Lim, and some civilian supporters underwent a siege in the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati and demanded the ouster of Arroyo.

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