Gordon calls to revisit RP values to bring about genuine change

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today sought for a paradigm shift in the way the Filipinos think, speak and act to bring about the kind of change that the country desperately needs.   Gordon said a community of people who think, speak, and act for the common good is what the Bagumbayan Movement, which he started, aims to create.   "It's time we change the paradigm. It's time that we have a Bagumbayan," he said.   "Kailangan natin magkaroon ng tapang at ng pagbabago sa paraan ng ating pag-iisip at pag-uugali upang tuluyan nating mabago ang ating bansa," he added.   Gordon explained that the Bagumbayan Movement seeks to rediscover and revitalize the Filipinos' identity by having a vision grounded on values and empowered by volunteerism.   The senator stressed the need for change so that the country may depart from its current state where corruption is committed with impunity and perpetrators go unpunished.   He said that change can start by electing the country's leaders through a clean, honest, and credible election which can be brought about by an automated system of elections where everyone can be certain that their votes will be counted.   "Dapat may sarili tayong pag-iisip, tayo ang magdedesiyon. Mahalin natin ang ating boto. Kahit pa sabihing matatalo ang kandidato mo, kung naniniwala ka doon sa kandidato mo, 'yun ang iboto mo," Gordon said.   He also said that it is time for the Filipino people to start breaking the walls in their minds by regaining confidence in their capabilities and being courageous about the future.   "Our quest is not for the victory of one man or woman in the 2010 polls.  Our quest is for the victory of all Filipinos for Bagumbayan is where we Filipinos will find our future, not in foreign shores, but in our very own native Filipinas," Gordon said.   "We must have a vision for where we want our nation to be and mold ourselves to the values that will help us achieve this vision," he added. (30)

Gordon: Public grows indifferent towards political parties

In a period when political parties in the country seem to be mere organizations that promote personalities rather than ideologies, the public has grown indifferent to it, seeking for a party that truly promotes the people's welfare, Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said.   Gordon said political parties have been considered by many as an essential part of a national candidate's political campaign. However, he continued, these political organizations do not declare what they truly stand for.   "What do political parties in our country stand for? Do they stand for what the country and the people truly need?" he said.   "A political party should not just be a tool for political interests. It should be a movement that has a vision for the country, guided by the right values and encourages the people to be one with the government to effect the kind of change our country needs," he added.   Gordon noted that a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in November 2006, months before the 2007 mid-term elections, showed that 67% or two-thirds of the 1,200 respondents nationwide said no party promotes their welfare.   He said the result of the survey shows that political parties in the country do not reach out to the people. They only serve as part of the political machinery of candidates running for public office, but they do not present visions, policies and platforms.   He added that this forms a scenario where people become indifferent towards political parties and instead, they support the resurgence of movements working for good governance and good electoral exercise.   "The public seeks for a party that has vision for the people, promotes values formation, and moves for social transformation through volunteerism. This is what the Bagumbayan Movement is all about," Gordon said.   "What do political parties in the country stand for? I know what Bagumbayan stands for. It stands for responsibility, good governance, law and order, strong and growing economy, education, health care, jobs, homes, family and environment," he added.   Bagumbayan is a grassroots organization committed to work towards change in the country by pushing for voters' registration and campaigning for poll automation to achieve clean, honest, orderly and credible elections. It has 30,000 card-bearing members from all over the country and is still counting.   "Bagumbayan is anchored on a simple formula of 'Vision + Values + Volunteerism = Victory'.  It is a New Philippines where everyone is enabled, ennobled and free; a community of people who think, speak and act for the common good," Gordon said. (30)

‘Early voting’ to curb election-related violence -- Gordon

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today reiterated his call for an "early voting" especially in 181 areas tagged as consistent election hotspots in the country in order to avert a recurrence of election-related violence and killings.   Gordon made the call as he noted a resurgence of political killings in areas the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) considered to be "consistent election hotspots" since 2001.   "Although election is still several months away, there has been a rise in killings and violence which authorities widely believed to be politically motivated in areas considered as consistent election hotspots," he said.    "The conduct of an early or advanced voting would not only allow increased participation among Filipino electorate but would also help our police and election authorities secure our people from election-related violence," he said.   Last month, a village councilor was killed, and two others, including a barangay chairman, were injured in an attack in Kidapawan, Sultan Kudarat.  Authorities believed the attack was politically motivated.   In Davao alone, police records report about 221 killings in the 10 months from January to October last year, boosting the country's reputation for the most number of murders by the 2009 Guinness Book of World Record.   Election hotspots are categorized as election areas of concern (EAC) and election areas of immediate concern (EIAC).   EAIC are towns, cities or municipalities where election-related violence are highly expected to occur, while EAC are areas where election-related violence are likely to occur or where election-related offenses were committed during the previous elections.   Official figures account for 181 consistent election hotspots in the country during the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections. Provinces with the most number of towns classified as either EAC or EAIC include Lanao del Sur (with 20 towns), Masbate (18), Nueva Ecija (17), Cagayan (16), and Abra (10), among others.   "If we conduct early elections in these towns, the Comelec and the PNP can concentrate on securing these areas so as to avert politically-motivated crimes and violence. When the people know they are secured, they would have the confidence to go out and cast their votes," Gordon said.   Gordon, author of the amended Automated Election System Law, has earlier filed Senate Bill 2972 which seeks to allow for the practice of early voting in polls, by which voters can cast their votes on a single or series of days prior to an election day.   He explained that early voting would also encourage active participation among overseas Filipino workers, businessmen who may have scheduled trips abroad, people who may be working on elections day, and people who live in remote places to vote before the official elections day in May 2010.   "This (early-voting) is not exactly an undiscovered science. After all, Americans showed it very, very stoutly in the last elections. One good thing in the last ( US ) elections is in the discovery of people that their votes will count and that is why there was a huge turn-out," Gordon said.   In the last U.S. presidential election, early voting reportedly accounted for about one-third (or more than 30 percent) of the votes cast in the presidential race, compared with 14 percent in 2000. (30)

Bagumbayan Movement Grand Launching on April 27, 2009

It's happening on April 27, 2009 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.

Bagumbayan is a movement that began more than ten years ago with a mission to manifest transformational politics.

Statement of Independent Senator and PNRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon on the safe release of ICRC worker Mary Jean Lacaba

We are happy and relieved that our colleague, Mary Jean "Nene" Lacaba, is finally safe and free.  After spending 78 days in the jungle of Sulu, Nene is finally reunited with her family.  Her ordeal is more than a story of human suffering, but a triumph of human spirit. Hers is a lesson for us all and hopefully we shall take this tragic reality to heart.  But, for now, we are happy she is alive and well. We thank all those who have – collectively and individually — made her release possible.  We thank the military chain of command, especially our soldiers – those who sacrificed their lives and those who are still fighting in the field, and also the members of the Crisis Committee in Sulu. Nene's safe and unconditional release is a proof that talking things through, using peaceful and diplomatic means available to resolve conflict, is better than using bullets and bombs.  Life is precious, even the life of those who have declared themselves as our enemies.  In seeking the release of Nene, Andreas Notter, and Eugenio Vagni, we hold firm the belief that keeping the lines of communication open at all times and the faith in the inherent goodness in each one of us all will enable us to succeed. Our constant prayers as a nation of Christians and Muslims show that we all pray to one Supreme Power.  It also proves that no matter what province we may come from or what heritage we may bear, we are all Filipinos first. The euphoria we feel today is however weighed down by the continued struggle of Andreas and Eugenio.  Nene's release fills us with hope that our two other colleagues will also be released soon.  Nevertheless, we must continue with all peaceful efforts and remain steadfast in praying for their safe release.  We shall never relax our efforts for the freedom of Andreas and Eugenio. But when this episode is over, we will certainly be in a position of full peace and development offensive. We have been to Basilan, Sulu and other parts of the country where poverty and desperation has bred violent conflict.  What is needed is a new paradigm shift for bringing the peace to these areas.  Instead of retreating, the government should move forward and ensure that development initiatives as well as government services are provided in full and unrelenting waves.