Press Release
August 12, 2009

"CHANGE WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF 7 MILLION POTENTIAL VOTERS
GO OUT AND REGISTER" - KIKO PANGILINAN

With barely three months to go before the October 31 deadline for voter registration, independent senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan heightened his call for people to go out and register. Pangilinan, one of the convenors of the Register & Vote (RV) movement, reiterated this call a day after his daughter KC Concepcion registered at the Mandaluyong City Hall Comelec Office.

With "Cory fever" sweeping the whole country and ushering in a renewed clamor for change, especially in light of the upcoming 2010 presidential election, Pangilinan asserted that for change to be possible in 2010, it must start with people going out to register so that their voices will count.

"Kung gusto natin ng ganap na pagbabago sa pamumuno na ating gobyerno at hindi na ibalik ang mga pulitikong pansarili lamang ang inaatupag, kailangannating bumoto darating na halalan. At para makaboto, kailangang sila ay ganap na rehistradong botante."

The Senator fears that while there is a brewing groundswell for active participation in 2010, it might be difficult to realize the kind of changes and reforms that Filipinos aspire for as a people and as a nation if as much as 7 million potential voters do not participate in the election.

"I believe that if there is a legacy that former President Aquino left us, it is that change is only possible if people themselves will work for it. I believe that the late former President wants People Power in our elections next year. For this to be possible, we have to register, vote, and protect democracy by protecting the sanctity of the vote", Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan, together with other members of the Register & Vote movement composed of Rep. Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan), Rep. Teddy Casino (Bayan Muna), Rep. Ruffy Biazon (Muntinlupa), Gov. Grace Padaca (Isabela), Mayor Jesse Robredo (Naga City), Gov. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao), environmentalist Dr. Neric Acosta, and book author Atty. Alex Lacson have been going around the country with the "RV Bus" to convince first-time voters to register and vote.

Pangilinan adds: "What we need is nothing less than an electoral revolt to usher in change in governance and politics."

News Latest News Feed