Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pamalakaya warns Bong Revilla of political defeat

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday warned Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of possible electoral defeat in 2010 if he would not stop his father, Ramon Sr., from pursuing a project that would evict small fishermen and poor communities in several coastal towns of CavitePamalakaya, a left-leaning fisherfolk alliance, wanted Ramon Sr., chair of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), to rescind the P8-billion Coastal Road 2 Project because it would lead to the reclamation of Cavite's coastal towns - Bacoor, Tanza, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario and Cavite City.

The reclamation activities will pave the way for the revival and expansion of the former American naval base Sangley Point, which Revilla Sr. wanted to develop as a major international port, along with gambling and entertainment centers.

In order to proceed with the reclamation, the PRA has to demolish 26,000 fisherfolk families sourcing their living from Manila Bay and living along the coastal towns of the province. Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a statement that "Senator Bong will pay very dearly" if he fails to convince his father to scrap the project. The militant leader said Pamalakaya will not hesitate to campaign against Bong Revilla's candidacy whether in the senatorial or vice-presidential elections should he ignore their plea. "For us, politics is always in command.

He will not entertain a second thought of publicly campaigning against him, if he will not do his legal, moral and political assignment to defend the fisherfolk's rights against this grandslam, grand scam corporate takeover of Cavite fishing areas," Hicap added.

The young Revilla was reportedly eying the vice-presidency in the 2010 national elections, and could be the official vice-presidential standard-bearer of Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

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