Harvey Keh, lead convenor of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Government and Ethical Leadership, endorsed reelectionist Sen. Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel III, former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros and social entrepreneur Benigno 鈥淏am鈥� Aquino IV in simple ceremonies at the historic Club Filipino.
The presence of two Liberal Party senators鈥擣rancis Pangilinan and Teofisto 鈥淭G鈥� Guingona III鈥攈owever, raised eyebrows since it appeared to some that they were leaving out the eight other Team PNoy senatorial bets in expressing support for the four.
鈥淲e, as Kaya Natin!, are endorsing (the four candidates) throughout the country. Not only endorse but also campaign for them and come up with parallel efforts to ensure we get more support for these candidates,鈥� Pangilinan said at one point.
However, the senator, who is Kaya Natin! chairman, later clarified that the group and LP are two separate entities and that as such, he is campaigning for all 12 candidates of Team PNoy.
Pangilinan also expressed confidence that campaign officials of Team PNoy would appreciate Kaya Natin!鈥檚 move to endorse administration candidates who remain outside the Top 12 in candidate preference surveys.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure some of those in Team PNoy鈥� will also understand that we have to give an extra push for those outside the winning circle,鈥� he explained to reporters after the event.
Pangilinan was apparently referring to Hontiveros and Magsaysay.聽 However, a third Team PNoy candidate, former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, also remains outside the Top 12 but was not endorsed by Kaya Natin!.
Keh explained that Kaya Natin! has more than 10,000 members from over 100 local government units and private organizations.
He said only the group鈥檚 40 core leaders were consulted about which candidates Kaya Natin! would endorse.
Keh said the core group adhered to criteria related to the leadership style that Robredo exhibited before his unexpected death in a plane crash last August.
Pangilinan said the candidates were selected through a straw vote. Keh added that a candidate had to obtain a 鈥�70 percent threshold from all those voting from private organizations, the academe and politics鈥� to be able to gain their endorsement.
Present during the event were 鈥渞unning priest鈥� Fr. Robert Reyes and former Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio. Panlilio, who is running again for governor, and Robredo were cofounders of Kaya Natin!
Pangilinan explained that the Robredo-based selection process was necessary given that the May 13 election would be critical to the Aquino administration.
鈥淪ince reforms are now being put in place by our President, the past three years are not enough, maybe even [his entire] six-year term would not be enough if we are to truly move the nation to a new direction. We see 2013 as an opportunity for new, principled, young or even experienced public leaders [to] be chosen to serve,鈥� he noted.
鈥淜aya Natin! decided to have this activity to show or at least present what we believe to be choices needed and necessary if we are to continue or sustain efforts at reforms and economic growth in the country,鈥� Pangilinan added.
Keh said Magsaysay was chosen for his 鈥済reat sense of compassion for the ordinary Filipinos鈥� as shown in his livelihood programs for grassroots communities, Hontiveros as 鈥渁 champion of women and peace,鈥� Pimentel for his campaign for clean and honest elections and Aquino for 鈥渁ctively seeking social change鈥� through his Hapinoy entrepreneurship program.