Genuine Opposition
Genuine Opposition (GO) is the political multi-party electoral alliance of the parties senatorial line-up for the 2007 Philippine midterm elections, which is in opposition to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was originally called the United Opposition (UNO), created by opposition stalwart and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in June 2005 to unite all politicians who wanted to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. UNO then reorganized itself and changed its name to Grand and Broad Coalition (GBC), with the UNO party under that coalition. On February 15, 2007 the group changed its name again to Genuine Opposition after a meeting with Senate President Manny Villar in his office in Las Piñas City and because of the defection of former opposition senators Edgardo Angara, Teresa Aquino-Oreta and Tito Sotto to GMA's senatorial slate.
Genuine Opposition | |
---|---|
Slogan | One vote against the incumbent |
Candidates | |
Merged into | United Nationalist Alliance |
Coalition members
Mainstream party members:
- United Opposition (UNO)
- Liberal Party (LP-Drilon wing)
- Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)
- PDP–Laban
- Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC-Escudero/Legarda wing)
- Nacionalista Party (NP)
- Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL-Marcos wing)
- Aksyon Demokratiko (AD)
Background
The United Opposition Coalition was created by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay on June 2005 to unite all politicians who wished to impeach Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The UNO started scouting candidates for the Senate as early as October 2006 to claim a large share of the Senate seats. On January 2007, UNO started short-listing its nominees after a large number of interested personalities wanted to join the opposition. The UNO changed its name on February 12, 2007 at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila to "Grand and Broad Coalition" (GBC). On February 15, 2007 the group changed its name again to "Genuine Opposition" (GO) after a meeting with Senate President Manny Villar in his office in Las Piñas. GO became the opposition coalition with eight parties under its wing, including its predecessor, UNO. Though Senate President Manny Villar and Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan are running under the Opposition, they remain independent candidates as in the 2001 election. On February 28, 2007, Genuine Opposition dropped Francis Pangilinan as its adopted candidate. After the elections, GO reverted to being the United Opposition, with Binay as head, but still maintaining the support of the other parties that comprised GO.
Slogan
The first slogan is "PLAN Co REVOLT". P stands for Pimentel, L stands for Legarda, A stands for Alan, N stands for Noynoy, Co stands for Coseteng, R stands for Roco, E stands for Escudero, V stands for Villar, O stands for Osmeña, L stands for Lacson, and T stands for Trillanes. The PLAN Co REVOLT partylist (literally, My plan is to revolt) means "Revolt against corruption and poverty". The second slogan is "Isang boto lang po laban sa nakaupo." (literally, One vote against the incumbent.).
GO senatorial slate
Name | Party | Occupation | Elected |
---|---|---|---|
Benigno Aquino III | LP | Representative from Tarlac (1998–2007); only son of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon C. Aquino (1986–1992) and the elder brother of the actress Kris Aquino. | |
Alan Peter Cayetano | NP | Representative from Taguig-Pateros (1998–2007); first son of late Senator Renato "Companero" Cayetano and the younger brother of current Senator Pia Cayetano (2004–2010). He is also the husband of the house representative of Taguig City-Pateros Ma. Laarni Lopez-Cayetano. | |
Nikki Coseteng | Independent | former senator (1992–2001) and former Quezon City Representative (1987–1992). | |
Francis Escudero | NPC | House Minority Floor Leader (2001–2007) and Representative from Sorsogon (1998–2007), Lawyer and son of former Marcos cabinet member Sonny Escudero. | |
Panfilo Lacson | UNO | Senator (2001–present) and once aspired to be the mayor of Manila. He was also the former Chief of the Philippine National Police. | |
Loren Legarda | NPC | TV Personality (TV Journalist), former 2004 Vice Presidential candidate and former Senator (1998–2004). | |
John Henry Osmeña | UNO | former senator (1971–1972; 1987–1995; 1998–2004). | |
Koko Pimentel | PDP–Laban | 1990 Bar Topnotcher, Lawyer, son of Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | |
Sonia Roco | AD | Widow of late Senator (1992–2001), 1998 and 2004 presidential candidate, and Education Secretary Raul Roco (2001–2002) who died in 2005. | |
Antonio Trillanes | UNO | detained military officer, leader of the Magdalo group and the leader of the Oakwood Mutiny in Makati City in 2003. | |
Manuel Villar | NP | former Speaker of the House and former Senate President (2006–2008) and senator (2001–present). |
Campaign team
- Campaign Manager: Senator Sergio Osmeña III (PDP–Laban)
- Deputy Campaign Manager: San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito (PMP)
- Campaign Spokesman: Atty. Adel Tamano, then the current president of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Election results
8 out of 11 candidates won the possible 11 seats in the Senate namely: (in order of votes received)
- Benigno Aquino III
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Francis Escudero
- Panfilo Lacson
- Loren Legarda
- Koko Pimentel
- Antonio Trillanes
- Manuel Villar
See also
- Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) (Coalition of United Filipinos), the opposition's coalition in the 2004 Presidential elections.
- Puwersa ng Masa (Force of the Masses), the opposition's coalition in the 2001 midterm elections.
- Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP) (Struggle of Patriotic Filipino Masses), the opposition's coalition in the 1998 Presidential elections.
- TEAM Unity, Genuine Opposition rival coalition last 2007 midterm elections.
- Team PNoy, Most Genuine Opposition candidates are reelected in 2013 midterm election.