Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar, in a bid to show his determination to lead the country, fortified his position as the candidate to beat in the 2010 presidential elections when he formally sealed NP’s alliance with the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) led by Ilocos Norte (2nd District) Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong City Friday morning.

Rep. Marcos was the latest political bigwig to join the NP. Villar strongly believes that Marcos was a big addition to the party to enhance their victory in the May, 2010 polls.

For his part, Rep. Marcos said he joined Villar because the NP president is the only candidate who has a clear and grand vision to improve the lives of our poor countrymen.

Villar said he expects criticisms from different persons and sectors for accepting the young Marcos, being the son of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos who was ousted in a People Power revolution in 1986. He explained that he included the young Marcos in the NP senatorial slate because of his leadership skills and sterling educational background.

“I am sure that some will focus on the fact that he is the son of a former president. That is not the reason why I think he is qualified.

Bongbong Marcos is an excellent leader because he has a sterling educational background having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford University and a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I am sure that some will try to revive our nation’s political past that has divided the country. I will not do that. I’d rather look at his qualifications as a public servant,” Villar stated.

In his speech, Villar emphasized that the single biggest issue at stake in the 2010 elections is not just about changing the person sitting as president but fighting poverty.

“But it has to mean more than that. Let us not commit the mistake of voting simply to oust a person without understanding what the one who will take its place offers. Madaling sumigaw ng pagbabago.

Subalit kailangan nating tanungin, anong klaseng pagbabago ba ang kailangan ng bansa? Madaling sumalungat sa pangkasalukuyang kalakaran, subalit ano ba ang kaya mong gawin pag ikaw ang naupo?” added Villar.

He lamented that what really ails the nation is that our leaders focus on individuals. Villar said this has to change. What will make us great as a nation is our ability to acknowledge our differences, what will make us fail is our failure to celebrate that diversity.

Villar added that there is nothing wrong with having differences in religion, ethnicity, or even political opinions; they are, in fact, vital in a healthy democracy. The problem lies in the inability of some of us to go beyond those differences and focus on the task at hand: to fight poverty.

Both Villar and Bongbong signed a coalition agreement before hundreds of supporters, including dozens of local officials from Ilocos Norte. Also present was Marcos’ eldest sister, former Rep Imee Marcos, KBL secretary-general, who expressed her all-out support to her brother’s quest for a Senate seat.

Incidentally, Villar, in his opening remarks, recalled that the last President of the country who came from the Nationalista Party was no less than Bongbong’s father.

Villar said the coming May, 2010 polls will determine whether we will continue to wallow in poverty or if we can finally climb our way out of the impoverishment that has afflicted our people for so long.

“Our pressing challenge is to jointly address the plague of poverty which has continued to grip majority of our people through leadership transitions,” Villar said.

Bongbong shared NP’s core advocacy against poverty, emphasizing that the poor must be empowered in all aspects as foremost priority.

He added that the NP-KBL alliance was anchored on their trust and confidence in the NP leader’s integrity and leadership harnessed from the latter’s own perseverance against poverty.

The Ilocos Norte congressman said of Villar, “He is a simple man of humble origins with a grand vision for the country… Not only does he understand the underprivileged, he started life with so little, just like the ordinary Filipino. Ngunit naiahon niya ang sarili at pamilya sa hirap, siya rin ang makakapag-ahon sa ating bansa mula sa kahirapan, gulo, at alitan.”

Former Rep. Imee Marcos, stressed, “The coming polls should no longer involve those who passed away, but should focus on the candidates themselves, according to their qualifications and fitness for public office.”

At the age of 23, Bongbong began his political career as Ilocos Norte vice governor in 1980. In 1992, he was elected representative of the province’s second district. Then he became Ilocos Norte governor in 1998, serving for three consecutive terms. He noted that after many years, nothing has been proven against the Marcos family.

In 2007, he was elected back to the House of Representatives, where he now serves as its deputy minority leader. During this term, one of the important pieces of legislation he authored was the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law or Republic Act 9522.

Ilocos Norte is acknowledged as the bailiwick of the Marcos family. Mariano Marcos, grandfather of Reps. Bongbong and Imee Marcos, was the province’s first known Marcos as former second district congressman.

The KBL party, formerly the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista, Liberal, at iba pa, started in 1978 as an umbrella coalition of different political parties replacing the two-party system prominent before the declaration of Martial Law. It was later on turned into a regular political party in 1979 by President Ferdinand Marcos. In the 2007 elections, KBL fielded candidates and declared itself an opposition political party.

Jinggoy not joining NP

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jose ‘’Jinggoy’’ Estrada formally declined the offer of Villar to run as guest candidate of the NP’s senatorial slate.

Estrada also explained his decision why he would be formally withdrawing his signature on Senate Resolution No. 1472 which he and 11 others signed exonerating Villar from charges of unethical conduct arising from the controversial C-5 Road project that supposedly benefited the Villar family.

Despite withdrawing his signature, Estrada reiterated: “I still believe that up to this date and I will not change my position that Senator Villar is innocent of the charges filed against him.’’

The formal withdrawal would be made on the Senate session hall when the Upper House resumes regular session on December 1 after the current week-long recess, he said.

Estrada said he was declining the Villar offer following charges, rumors, and speculations that those who signed the resolution clearing the NP presidential bet of any liability arising from the C-5 road project were given or promised financial rewards.

“It is not true. My credibility is at stake here,’’ Estrada told Senate reporters in a press briefing yesterday.

(With reports from Mario B. Casayuran and Freddie G. Lazaro)