The way it sounded, Olongapo Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes had conceded the presidency to Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
“Senator Aquino, there is a big chance that you will be the next president based on what the surveys are saying now. And I want you to succeed,” De los Reyes told the Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer in his parting remarks at the 2nd Integrity and Human Rights Conference Tuesday at Hotel InterContinental Manila.
De los Reyes’ statement elicited a surprised buzz from the audience.
When it was Aquino’s turn to speak, he drew laughter when he started off with: “Thank you to Councilor JC for acknowledging that I have a good chance of running this country.”
But De los Reyes, the standard-bearer of Ang Kapatiran party, later described his remark as just a bit of sarcasm.
Asked if he was serious about conceding to Aquino, he told reporters: “No, I said it with a smile.
“I’m here to win. Let’s face it, [Aquino] has a big chance. But we have 70 plus days [before the elections], and I’m here to give it my all.”
De los Reyes went on to take a dig at the LP, saying it was not enough for a presidential candidate to commit to a moral, transparent and accountable government, and that his political party must do the same.
‘Never’
In a subsequent interview with the Inquirer, De los Reyes said he would never give up on the presidential race.
He said that with his remark, “I meant to impress upon the senator the need for a responsible and accountable political party for genuine reforms, not merely for an individual who would pursue a ‘personal ambition’ to catch a smuggler or a corrupt official responsible for substandard infrastructure within the first two weeks of his presidency, or who would share the pork barrel with friend and foe alike.”
He was quoting Aquino in an Inquirer report on Feb. 20 on what Malacañang would be if the senator wins the presidency.
“In behalf of Ang Kapatiran party, I will never concede in favor of any of the [other] presidential candidates,” De los Reyes said.
“The only thing I will concede is that the major political parties have failed this nation, particularly in passing key legislation pursuant to our Constitution that would have liberated our nation from the dynasts, oligarchs and the elite.”
De los Reyes also said simplifying the complex by getting down to core-policy issues affecting human rights would put clarity in the electorate’s bases for choosing who should be the next president.
He said this would prevent the risk of voters getting “drowned and confused” by the range of issues, including “peripheral issues,” being raised both in the media and in various forums.
“Oftentimes, these can already be addressed by the candidates’ stand on matters of greatest concern,” he said.
Questioning politics
Earlier at the forum, there were slightly tense moments when De los Reyes urged Aquino to push the LP to be more accountable and transparent.
“All I’m saying is we really need a responsible and accountable political party. The political parties of before, even those in [the dictator Ferdinand] Marcos’ time, did not work to uphold the Constitution, like the provisions against political dynasties or the full disclosure of government transactions,” he said.
De Los Reyes said he was not questioning the LP’s moral authority.
“But I’m questioning the propriety of the kind of politics they’re conducting,” he said, adding:
“One person believes this, but it is not adhered [to] by the membership. There are no clear and specific aspirations.
“What is the stand of the LP and Nacionalista Party on [political dynasties]? What is their stand on the pork barrel? These are obstacles to the progress of the people.
“What is their stand as a party, not as a presidential candidate? That’s what we should ask. Whatever they say will be useless if they don’t take a party stand.”
De los Reyes also said he was not attacking the LP standard-bearer.
“It’s not him I’m hitting. It’s everybody who espouses this kind of politics that breeds irresponsible and corrupt political parties,” he said.
Neither Aquino nor Villar
Asked whom he would support if it became a two-man race between Aquino and Sen. Manuel Villar, another survey front-runner who was a no-show at the forum, De Los Reyes said: “After today, neither.”
He said Aquino appeared “peeved” by his remarks.
But the senator responded with a joke: “Yan naman ang hirap sa kaibigan natin (That’s the problem with our friend here)…”
He proceeded to point out that he and the LP were with De Los Reyes’ party in fighting the scrapped National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., among other irregular government deals.
But then, Aquino said, drawing laughter from the audience, “the media would now say we’re calling Kapatiran’s bluff (sasabihin naman sa media, pinapatulan namin ang Kapatiran).”
He added that the people, especially the poor, were more concerned with basic matters, like putting food on the table.
Showing posts with label John Carlos JC de los Reyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Carlos JC de los Reyes. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
JC de los Reyes'first 100 days if elected
Presidential candidate and Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes promised tax cuts to improve the quality of living of poor Filipinos.
The Expanded Value-Added Tax (E-VAT) should be lowered because “the poor are having a hard time,” de los Reyes said at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) presidential forum on Monday.
Seven out of 9 invited presidential candidates were asked about whether taxes should be lowered or increased during their first year in office if elected President on May 10.
De los Reyes did not elaborate on his proposed decrease in the 12% E-VAT currently being implemented by the government.
The 12% E-VAT implementation started January 2006.
De los Reyes said that he would focus on lowering E-VAT on electricity, food and water.
Aside from E-VAT, he said he would study how to decrease income taxes of those providing basic services namely teachers and soldiers, and minimum wage earners.
“I am not too excited in increasing taxes,” he said.
Programs to benefit poor
In his first 100 days in office, de los Reyes said he would focus on health care, education, labor, and peace and order.
“I would like to have affordable health medicines in all barangay health centers in the country,” he said.
De los Reyes also said that he would push for a values-based education program in schools.
“I would focus on establishing a nation of character that would reflect political integrity, social stability, high market [value] and technological competitiveness and economic progress,” he said.
The Ang Kapatiran standard-bearer said there is a need to review of the labor code because of rampant labor contractualization, where workers no longer enjoy security of tenure.
“I would study the on-going rampant contractualization and I would need to address the problem of contractualization—which is, of course, the labor code,” he said.
In order to address the problem of peace and order in the country, de los Reyes reiterated his stand for a total gun ban.
“I would implement a total gun ban not only on election period but I would study the total gun ban after [elections],” he said.
He said that the gun ban would be “comprehensive, integrated and holistic.”
“It cannot be an idealistic approach. I would have to study the laws where local government officials appoint police directors and retired generals setting up police agencies,” he said.
“Once you remove the guns from public places—that is the first step to peace and order, especially in the country side, and especially in Mindanao,” he said.
Anti-VFA policy
De los Reyes also said that he is against the United States military presence in Mindanao .
“The privilege speech of Senator Santiago is worth considering when we talk about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA),” he said.
Santiago earlier assailed the VFA for allowing the US military to stay not just for short visits but for a long time.
He questioned why the agreement is called VFA, indicating that the word "visiting" may have been included in it to sugarcoat the deal. “Particularly, why is it that in the Philippines we call it the VFA but in other countries they call the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)?”
Other countries that host US military presence call the accords SOFAs.
“Ten years is not visiting anymore,” he said, agreeing with sentiments earlier expressed by presidential aspirant and Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal. (Read more: ‘Gibo’ says RP should have more VFAs)
Will re-open ‘Hello Garci’ scandal
De los Reyes promised to reopen the “Hello Garci” scandal, among other corruption allegations against the president. He said these controversial issues must be resolved. “We have to have a closure to go on,” he said.
The “Hello Garci” scandal involves leaked wiretapped conversations on vote rigging allegedly involving President Arroyo and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
“It is something we say, now we have to do it (investigate on corruption allegations against the President),” he said.
He likened the reopening of the Hello Garci scandal that erupted in 2005 to a Filipino saying: “Kung sinong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan (If you do not know where you come from, you cannot go to where you are headed).”
De los Reyes expressed disbelief that then opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. "did not get even a single vote in Maguindanao” in the 2004 elections.
“If this is the way we conduct elections in our country, we might as well forget our future, forget the next generation,” he said.
He said he is disgusted with the cheating, and that one of the reasons why he is running is because he feels “for the Filipino youth.”
“If there is one major problem, it is the apathy, hopelessness and helplessness of the youth,” he said.
De los Reyes said that it is the youth’s distrust in the government that draws them to go abroad for “greener pastures.”
The Expanded Value-Added Tax (E-VAT) should be lowered because “the poor are having a hard time,” de los Reyes said at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) presidential forum on Monday.
Seven out of 9 invited presidential candidates were asked about whether taxes should be lowered or increased during their first year in office if elected President on May 10.
De los Reyes did not elaborate on his proposed decrease in the 12% E-VAT currently being implemented by the government.
The 12% E-VAT implementation started January 2006.
De los Reyes said that he would focus on lowering E-VAT on electricity, food and water.
Aside from E-VAT, he said he would study how to decrease income taxes of those providing basic services namely teachers and soldiers, and minimum wage earners.
“I am not too excited in increasing taxes,” he said.
Programs to benefit poor
In his first 100 days in office, de los Reyes said he would focus on health care, education, labor, and peace and order.
“I would like to have affordable health medicines in all barangay health centers in the country,” he said.
De los Reyes also said that he would push for a values-based education program in schools.
“I would focus on establishing a nation of character that would reflect political integrity, social stability, high market [value] and technological competitiveness and economic progress,” he said.
The Ang Kapatiran standard-bearer said there is a need to review of the labor code because of rampant labor contractualization, where workers no longer enjoy security of tenure.
“I would study the on-going rampant contractualization and I would need to address the problem of contractualization—which is, of course, the labor code,” he said.
In order to address the problem of peace and order in the country, de los Reyes reiterated his stand for a total gun ban.
“I would implement a total gun ban not only on election period but I would study the total gun ban after [elections],” he said.
He said that the gun ban would be “comprehensive, integrated and holistic.”
“It cannot be an idealistic approach. I would have to study the laws where local government officials appoint police directors and retired generals setting up police agencies,” he said.
“Once you remove the guns from public places—that is the first step to peace and order, especially in the country side, and especially in Mindanao,” he said.
Anti-VFA policy
De los Reyes also said that he is against the United States military presence in Mindanao .
“The privilege speech of Senator Santiago is worth considering when we talk about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA),” he said.
Santiago earlier assailed the VFA for allowing the US military to stay not just for short visits but for a long time.
He questioned why the agreement is called VFA, indicating that the word "visiting" may have been included in it to sugarcoat the deal. “Particularly, why is it that in the Philippines we call it the VFA but in other countries they call the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)?”
Other countries that host US military presence call the accords SOFAs.
“Ten years is not visiting anymore,” he said, agreeing with sentiments earlier expressed by presidential aspirant and Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal. (Read more: ‘Gibo’ says RP should have more VFAs)
Will re-open ‘Hello Garci’ scandal
De los Reyes promised to reopen the “Hello Garci” scandal, among other corruption allegations against the president. He said these controversial issues must be resolved. “We have to have a closure to go on,” he said.
The “Hello Garci” scandal involves leaked wiretapped conversations on vote rigging allegedly involving President Arroyo and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
“It is something we say, now we have to do it (investigate on corruption allegations against the President),” he said.
He likened the reopening of the Hello Garci scandal that erupted in 2005 to a Filipino saying: “Kung sinong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan (If you do not know where you come from, you cannot go to where you are headed).”
De los Reyes expressed disbelief that then opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. "did not get even a single vote in Maguindanao” in the 2004 elections.
“If this is the way we conduct elections in our country, we might as well forget our future, forget the next generation,” he said.
He said he is disgusted with the cheating, and that one of the reasons why he is running is because he feels “for the Filipino youth.”
“If there is one major problem, it is the apathy, hopelessness and helplessness of the youth,” he said.
De los Reyes said that it is the youth’s distrust in the government that draws them to go abroad for “greener pastures.”
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
JC de los Reyes opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Josephs School in Olongapo.
One of the least known presidential candidates started his campaign in Olongapo City doing one thing that he might need to do a lot in his bid for the presidency—pray.
There was no hype nor hoopla when Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, standard-bearer of the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP), opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Joseph’s School in Olongapo.
After praying, he walked with a small group of party mates, supporters and some of his senatorial candidates to a market nearby where he shook hands, waved to people and introduced himself as a presidential candidate.
De los Reyes, a member of the Gordon political clan and the only Kapatiran candidate who won in the 2007 elections as a councilor in Olongapo, is running against his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon, and eight other candidates.
Accompanying De los Reyes at the start of his campaign was his Brazilian wife, Dunia Valenzuela, who believes her husband could win because he has “a pure heart” and “true compassion.”
“After he’s been talking to people, he brings their problems home to us, his family, and shows us what it’s like for them so we can understand. He wants to change things for the better,” she said.
“People say that he’s young. I know him more than anyone. He is full of passion and he is very determined. And who but God knows about what is right or wrong for this country?” she added.
Donated property
The group also visited Jubilee Village, a low-cost housing community in Olongapo that rose from property donated by De los Reyes’ family to house more than 40 poor families.
A woman living there told Inquirer the villagers would vote for De los Reyes.
“But even if we are not living here, we will still vote for him. If people knew him, they would, too,” she said.
De los Reyes moved around the city with a convoy of only a few vehicles. In some areas, like the villages of Barrio Barreto and New Cabalan, he went out of his vehicle unattended by bodyguards. He has none.
Among Kapatiran’s senatorial candidates who accompanied him were retired Air Force Col. Hector Tarrazona and former Aparri, Cagayan, Councilor Reginald Tamayo.
“People are surprised that we don’t have security detail even when going to squatter areas. But [all candidates] must not be afraid of the people. They are the ones we are going to serve,” said Tarrazona, one of the 11 original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement in 1986.
“Nothing has changed in this country. There is no hope. We must be able to change this. What I’m praying for is that we become a nation of true Christians because that [will eliminate all the vile things that we are seeing now],” he said.
Tamayo said he was running for senator under AKP because of De los Reyes’ idealism.
“He can mix his faith with his political life. And what he says [in the political arena] is anchored on his Christianity—that is uncommon among politicians,” he said.
De los Reyes’ running mate, lawyer Dominador Chipeco, was unable to join the start of the campaign in Olongapo as he was meeting with family members in Calamba, Laguna. Chipeco is expected to join the campaign when it reaches Metro Manila.
Off to a good start
A top official of AKP said the campaign was off to a good start.
“We had a busy day and we hope the warm welcome shown to JC will be repeated in the next days to come,” said Eric Manalang, AKP president and chair, in a phone interview from Olongapo.
Many people, Manalang said, wished De los Reyes “good luck” instead of telling him “I’ll pray for you.”
De los Reyes, a theology graduate, said he felt bad about being told “I’ll pray for you” because he took it to mean that people think he’ll lose.
“I feel bad because it’s as if our party’s causes are unattainable and hopeless and all they can do is pray for me,” he said.
Creative campaign materials
Manalang said AKP’s youth chapter prepared creative campaign materials for De los Reyes’ sorties. These include masks mounted on staffs that call on people to reject evil ways like political dynasties, patronage politics, corruption, pork barrel and gambling.
Manalang said De los Reyes’ group went on a house-to-house campaign in Olongapo City, distributing leaflets and pins.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to the Subic Bay Freeport commercial area to meet with workers.
De los Reyes’ party has scheduled a proclamation rally on Feb. 16 in Payatas, Quezon City.
There was no hype nor hoopla when Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, standard-bearer of the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP), opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Joseph’s School in Olongapo.
After praying, he walked with a small group of party mates, supporters and some of his senatorial candidates to a market nearby where he shook hands, waved to people and introduced himself as a presidential candidate.
De los Reyes, a member of the Gordon political clan and the only Kapatiran candidate who won in the 2007 elections as a councilor in Olongapo, is running against his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon, and eight other candidates.
Accompanying De los Reyes at the start of his campaign was his Brazilian wife, Dunia Valenzuela, who believes her husband could win because he has “a pure heart” and “true compassion.”
“After he’s been talking to people, he brings their problems home to us, his family, and shows us what it’s like for them so we can understand. He wants to change things for the better,” she said.
“People say that he’s young. I know him more than anyone. He is full of passion and he is very determined. And who but God knows about what is right or wrong for this country?” she added.
Donated property
The group also visited Jubilee Village, a low-cost housing community in Olongapo that rose from property donated by De los Reyes’ family to house more than 40 poor families.
A woman living there told Inquirer the villagers would vote for De los Reyes.
“But even if we are not living here, we will still vote for him. If people knew him, they would, too,” she said.
De los Reyes moved around the city with a convoy of only a few vehicles. In some areas, like the villages of Barrio Barreto and New Cabalan, he went out of his vehicle unattended by bodyguards. He has none.
Among Kapatiran’s senatorial candidates who accompanied him were retired Air Force Col. Hector Tarrazona and former Aparri, Cagayan, Councilor Reginald Tamayo.
“People are surprised that we don’t have security detail even when going to squatter areas. But [all candidates] must not be afraid of the people. They are the ones we are going to serve,” said Tarrazona, one of the 11 original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement in 1986.
“Nothing has changed in this country. There is no hope. We must be able to change this. What I’m praying for is that we become a nation of true Christians because that [will eliminate all the vile things that we are seeing now],” he said.
Tamayo said he was running for senator under AKP because of De los Reyes’ idealism.
“He can mix his faith with his political life. And what he says [in the political arena] is anchored on his Christianity—that is uncommon among politicians,” he said.
De los Reyes’ running mate, lawyer Dominador Chipeco, was unable to join the start of the campaign in Olongapo as he was meeting with family members in Calamba, Laguna. Chipeco is expected to join the campaign when it reaches Metro Manila.
Off to a good start
A top official of AKP said the campaign was off to a good start.
“We had a busy day and we hope the warm welcome shown to JC will be repeated in the next days to come,” said Eric Manalang, AKP president and chair, in a phone interview from Olongapo.
Many people, Manalang said, wished De los Reyes “good luck” instead of telling him “I’ll pray for you.”
De los Reyes, a theology graduate, said he felt bad about being told “I’ll pray for you” because he took it to mean that people think he’ll lose.
“I feel bad because it’s as if our party’s causes are unattainable and hopeless and all they can do is pray for me,” he said.
Creative campaign materials
Manalang said AKP’s youth chapter prepared creative campaign materials for De los Reyes’ sorties. These include masks mounted on staffs that call on people to reject evil ways like political dynasties, patronage politics, corruption, pork barrel and gambling.
Manalang said De los Reyes’ group went on a house-to-house campaign in Olongapo City, distributing leaflets and pins.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to the Subic Bay Freeport commercial area to meet with workers.
De los Reyes’ party has scheduled a proclamation rally on Feb. 16 in Payatas, Quezon City.
Monday, February 1, 2010
JC Gordon De Los Reyes Profile
DE LOS REYES, JOHN CARLOS "JC" GORDON
BIRTHDATE: February 14, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH: Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
POLITICAL AFFLIATION: The Ang Kapatiran Party, Standard-Bearer
SPOUSE: Dunia Valenzuela de los Reyes
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
CARRER HISTORY
BIRTHDATE: February 14, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH: Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
POLITICAL AFFLIATION: The Ang Kapatiran Party, Standard-Bearer
SPOUSE: Dunia Valenzuela de los Reyes
| Level | School | Year Graduated |
| Elementary | Ateneo de Manila | no year |
| High School | De La Salle Zobel | no year |
| College | Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio, USA), BA in Theology | no year |
| Graduate Studies | University of the Philippines, Public Administration | no year |
| Bachelor of Laws | Saint Louis University (Baguio City) | no year |
| Position | Office | Years |
| Councilor | Olongapo City | 1995-1998, 2007-Present |
| Philosophy Instructor | University of Asia and the Pacific (under the tutelage of Fr. Joseph de Torre) | no year |
| Proprietor | Legobrick Systems and Designs | no year |
| Proprietor | Manufacturing clay bricks to build genuine brick homes | no year |
| Executive Director | Breaking of the Yoke of Poverty Foundation | Present |
Sunday, December 20, 2009
John Carlos JC de los Reyes
In 1995, John Carlos JC de los Reyes was elected as the city councilor of Olongapo City. During his term, he focused on the poor, the youth and cooperatives.
In the 2007 elections, among 27 local and national candidates, John Carlos JC de los Reyes was the lone winner of the Ang Kapatiran Party, placing second among ten slots for the Olongapo City Council. This was achieved despite a decade absent from local politics.
John Carlos JC de los Reyes free legal assistance program under an informal project named JUSTICE CRUSADE has been widely successful among his constituents. He is presently prioritizing the institutionalization of the Barangay Human Rights Action Centers, the office mandated by law for the protection and prevention of human rights violations in the barangay.
As councilor, de los Reyes has spoken out and campaigned against illegal drugs, rampant violations of worker’s rights at Hanjin, Subic Bay and has campaigned against illegal fish cages in the area. He has also led protests against the proposed coal power plant and has been outspoken in criticizing government’s plan to open more casinos in Subic.
The boldest statement he has made for good governance is the filing of numerous cases before the Ombudsman against high ranking government officials where he himself is complainant. This is in line with his political policy of alleviating the people’s suffering by addressing the problem of expensive and increasing costs of basic needs like water, electricity, medicines, health care, etc., and insuring that these basic services are kept free and far from graft and corruption.
John Carlos JC de los Reyes has been nominated as Presidential candidate to the Philippines for the 2010 elections.
In the 2007 elections, among 27 local and national candidates, John Carlos JC de los Reyes was the lone winner of the Ang Kapatiran Party, placing second among ten slots for the Olongapo City Council. This was achieved despite a decade absent from local politics.
John Carlos JC de los Reyes free legal assistance program under an informal project named JUSTICE CRUSADE has been widely successful among his constituents. He is presently prioritizing the institutionalization of the Barangay Human Rights Action Centers, the office mandated by law for the protection and prevention of human rights violations in the barangay.As councilor, de los Reyes has spoken out and campaigned against illegal drugs, rampant violations of worker’s rights at Hanjin, Subic Bay and has campaigned against illegal fish cages in the area. He has also led protests against the proposed coal power plant and has been outspoken in criticizing government’s plan to open more casinos in Subic.
The boldest statement he has made for good governance is the filing of numerous cases before the Ombudsman against high ranking government officials where he himself is complainant. This is in line with his political policy of alleviating the people’s suffering by addressing the problem of expensive and increasing costs of basic needs like water, electricity, medicines, health care, etc., and insuring that these basic services are kept free and far from graft and corruption.
John Carlos JC de los Reyes has been nominated as Presidential candidate to the Philippines for the 2010 elections.
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