Press Release
November 20, 2009

NP, KBL declare alliance

The Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Sen. Manny Villar and the oppositionist Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) led by Ilocos Norte (2nd district) Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. formally sealed their alliance at the historic Laurel House in Mandaluyong City, boosting further their bailiwicks.

Signing the coalition agreement for NP, Villar said, "Our pressing challenge is to jointly address the plague of poverty which has continued to grip majority of our people through leadership transitions."

Rep. Bongbong Marcos, who is eyeing a senatorial seat in 2010, shared NP's core advocacy against poverty, emphasizing that the poor must be empowered in all aspects as foremost priority.

He added that the NP-KBL alliance was anchored on their trust and confidence in the NP leader's integrity and leadership harnessed from the latter's own perseverance against poverty.

The Congressman said of Villar, "He is a simple man of humble origins with a grand vision for the country ... Not only does he understand the underprivileged, he started life with so little, just like the ordinary Filipino. Ngunit naiahon niya ang sarili at pamilya sa hirap, siya rin ang makakapag-ahon sa ating bansa mula sa kahirapan, gulo, at alitan."

Meanwhile, Bongbong's sister and KBL secretary-general, former Rep. Imee Marcos, stressed, "The coming polls should no longer involve those who passed away, but should focus on the candidates themselves, according to their qualifications and fitness for public office."

At the age of 23, Rep. Bongbong Marcos began his political career as Ilocos Norte vice-governor in 1980. In 1992, he was elected representative of the province's second district. Then he became Ilocos Norte governor in 1998, serving for three consecutive terms. He noted that after many years, nothing has been proven against the Marcos family. In 2007, he was elected back to the House of Representatives, where he now serves as its Deputy Minority Leader. During this term, one of the important pieces of legislation he authored was the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law or Republic Act 9522.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics degree from Oxford University; and Masters degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business.

Ilocos Norte is acknowledged as the bailiwick of the Marcos family. Mariano Marcos, grandfather of Reps. Bongbong and Imee Marcos, was the province's first known Marcos as former second district Congressman.

The KBL party, formerly the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista, Liberal, at iba pa, started in 1978 as an umbrella coalition of different political parties replacing the two-party system prominent before the declaration of Martial Law. It was later on turned into a regular political party in 1979 by President Ferdinand Marcos. In the 2007 elections, KBL fielded candidates and declared itself an opposition political party.

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