Ex-Bayan Muna congressman to run for Davao council seat

DAVAO CITY – Former Bayan Muna representative and human rights defender, Joel Virador, announced plans Saturday to enter local politics by seeking a council seat for the first district this city come 2010 local elections.

Joel Virador, 42, accepted the endorsement of the Bayan Muna party infront of some 7,000 crowd during the recently conducted Makabayan convention at the Rizal Memorial College (RMC) Gym this city. Virador was proclaimed as a bet for the local position together with Leah Librado, sister of Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, who will also be running as first district councilor and Ariel Casilao in the second district.

Virador is the Bayan Muna Vice President for Mindanao and former Bayan Muna partylist nominee (2004-2007). He was also the founding Secretary General of Karapatan, Allliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights in Southern Mindanao Region in 1995.

During the announcement, Virador stressed the need for the people’s continuing struggle to achieve a just and humane society referring to the need for the “politics of change, as opposed to trapo politics or patronage politics. “Ang piniliay, panagsa lang kini nga pakigbisog nga ginasalmotan nato mao nga ginahanglan gayod nga dili mawala ang padayong pakigbisog sa katawhan alang sa tawhanong katungod ug makitawhanong panginabuhian,” Virador said.

“I decided to seek for public office in the election next year in order to push for good governance, advocacy and more effective use of resources as well as improve our capacity to respond to the challenge of globalization, which we have been long struggling for.” Virador stressed.

Virador also believes that the local level provides greater opportunity for the active participation of progressive groups in the decision-making process. “We hope to take part in improving accountability and delivery of the essential services that the government must do,” Virador said.

Virador also said that aside from the endorsement of Makabayan Coalition and Bayan Muna, the current human rights situation has led him to seek candidacy for the upcoming local elections. He said he would advocate not only for the advancement of human rights but also for the city’s health care and reforms in the systems and mechanisms of providing social services for the marginalized sectors like the urban poor. He also favors genuine urban poor planning as these are all but inherent in the promotion of comprehensive human rights.

He also said he was concerned about the on-going debate over whether the local officials should approve the entry of HEDCOR’s hydro power plant in Tamugan.

“During public consultations in affected areas of big dams and hydro power projects in Luzon, I have heard and seen the worst what these projects can do to the environment and to the people. The recent flood in Luzon have victimized thousands of Filipino people, something which we do not want to happen here in our city,” Virador said.

In his younger days, Virador served as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general in Cotabato in 1986. After which he served as the Unit supervisor and regional director of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines – Southern Mindanao where he served for 8 years.###