Press Release
November 24, 2009

MORE THAN 100 LOCAL CANDIDATES JOIN LIBERAL PARTY
RICHARD GOMEZ, SHALANI AMONG THOSE WHO TOOK OATH

More than 100 local officials and candidates today formally took their oaths before the Liberal Party banner in a simple ceremony in Balay, Expo Centro in Quezon City.

Among those who took their oaths were actor Richard Gomez, who plans to run as representative of the fourth district of Leyte; Shalani Soledad, councilor of Valenzuela and girlfriend of LP presidential bet Noynoy Aquino; and local officials and candidates of Manila, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, Aurora, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Albay, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley.

The new members were warmly welcomed by Senators Aquino and Mar Roxas, who would be the Liberal's presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, in the 2010 national elections.

"Karangalan ko po na makasama kayong lahat dito sa ating laban na ito. Patunay lamang po ito na hindi kami nag-iisa ni Noynoy. Ito po ang dangal ng Liberal: ang pagkilala sa sistema ng pulitikang hinahanap ng taumbayan. Kunsensiya bago ambisyon; prinsipyo bago kapangyarihan; bayan bago sarili," said Roxas, who has been the front runner in surveys for vice president conducted by credible polling organizations.

He added: "We see a restoration of these values embodied by our two new Liberals today. Kinakatawan nila ang makabagong paraan ng pulitika at pamumuno na isinusulong namin ni Noy: tapat, marangal, handang lumaban, at siyempre pa, guwapo at maganda."

The Visayan senator reminded his party mates about the enormous challenges that lie ahead, urging them to remain confident that victory will come to those who have only the people's welfare and interests at heart.

"Marami at matindi ang problema ng bansa na kailangan nating ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban. Kailangan po ng puwersa ng kabutihang kayang talunin ang nagnanaknak na katiwalian at kasamaan na pumapalibot sa atin," he said.

"Kailangan nating lumaban, gaya ng paglaban ng mga nauna sa atin�gaya ni Ninoy na nagbuwis ng buhay, gaya ni Tita Cory na iniwan ang tahimik na buhay alang-alang sa sambayanan. Gaya ng sarili kong ama at ina na nasabugan ng granada sa Plaza Miranda," he also said.

The entry of Soledad and Gomez came following the defections of QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista and Kalookan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri.

Others who have joined the LP were former Senator Jose "Joey" Lina, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental Mayor Ruthie Guingona, Pasay City Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto, and former Laguna Vice Governor Edwin Olivares.

Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Piñol, Jr., Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza of Pangasinan, and Cavite Gov. Erineo "Ayong" Malicsi have also joined the party, as well as hundreds of local executives from all over the country.

The Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), a regional political party based in Cebu City, had also thrown its support for the Aquino-Roxas 2010 tandem.

Popular television host and actor Cesar Montano, who has been named as Philippine Ambassador to the Unesco by President Arroyo, has left the administration and joined the Liberal Party. He has been designated as LP provincial chairman and would be pitted again incumbent Gov. Erico Aumentado in the Bohol gubernatorial contest.

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