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
SloganOne vote against the incumbent
Candidates
Merged intoUnited Nationalist Alliance

Coalition members

Mainstream party members:

Background
Genuine Opposition logo

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)

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.

References
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