Press Release
February 24, 2008

KIKO: WE HAVENT CHANGED MUCH AFTER 22 YEARS; CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF A THIRD FORCE TO SQUARE OFF WITH TRAPO POLITICS AND TRAPO GOVERNANCE.

In the thick of public clamor for truth on the NBN ZTE controversy, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today raised the alarm on the state of national affairs, in line with the commemoration of the EDSA People Power 1.

"Data will show that from 1981-2001, China's per capita income grew by 400 percent, Malaysia by 150, and Thailand by 100.In d same period, our country's per capita remained the same. We slept for 20 yrs and to make things worse, today, we find ourselves yet again embroiled in another national political controversy that involves d highest seat in the land," Kiko said.

"Twenty-two yrs ago today we faced human rights violations, corruption, the growing insurgency and poverty. Today, 22 yrs after EDSA, these very same issues remain unresolved! It's like the country, for two decades, didn't move at all! Collectively our public sector leaders and our politics have failed us "Kiko lamented.

"As we celebrate the anniversary of the movement that toppled a dictatorship, we need to remind ourselves that the challenge is still with us, and it is still as threatening as ever. We need to rally our people behind a reform agenda, behind a coalition, a force for genuine change. We deserve to know d truth on the NBN ZTE deal. And as a people, we deserve better. We cannot have politics as usual if we are to realize the lessons of EDSA." Kiko said.

"Finally, we must reform our politics and our public sector governance. We must harness people power towards organizing and rallying our people behind a third force, a force that represents neither the administration nor the traditional political opposition. A third force representing the silent majority of our citizens who have thus far remained unwilling to respond, unwilling to act because of the lack of a viable alternative to the current crop of political leaders, because of the absence of political leadership w/ vision, principles and conviction." Kiko ended.

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