Ka Leody thinks TUCP’s backing of Marcos-Duterte tandem due to winnability, debt of gratitude
Photo Courtesy of Ka Leody De Guzman Facebook Page
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran labor leader Leody de Guzman on Tuesday said winnability or debt of gratitude could have been the basis of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) for supporting the tandem of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio.
De Guzman, popularly known as “Ka Leody”, is himself running for president in the May 9 elections. But he said he would not stop the labor group from endorsing another candidate.
He also quickly noted that he believes not all labor organizations under the TUCP have the same considerations in picking their candidates for this year’s general elections.
“Maaring ‘winnability’ o utang na loob ang naging batayan ng pamunuan ng TUCP sa desisyong suportahan ang Uniteam. Hindi ako hahadlang sa kanilang kalayaang mag-endorso,” he said in a statement.
(It may be the winnability or debt of gratitude that served as the basis of the leadership of the TUCP in its decision to support the UniTeam. I will not go against their freedom to endorse.)
“Subalit nakatitiyak ako na kung tatanungin ang mga manggagawa sa mga unyong kasapi ng TUCP, hindi ang mga usaping ito ang kanilang batayan sa pagboto kundi kung sino ang kandidatong may track record at plataporma para sa manggagawa at sa pagbabago,” de Guzman also pointed out.
(But I am sure that if the workers of the unions under TUCP were asked, these would not be their bases in voting, but track record and platform for workers and change.)
READ: Leody de Guzman pushes for government and economy of the masses
TUCP is the largest confederation of labor federations in the country.
Its spokesperson Alan Tanjusay claimed there was an “overwhelming” response from their 1.2 million members when they conducted consultation meetings across the country.
READ: TUCP pinili ang tambalang Bongbong – Sara
“The vote advantage of Mr. Marcos and Ms. Duterte-Carpio and with those four other pair of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants was very wide. It was an overwhelming majority decision in all caucuses held differently in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” Tanjusay said in an earlier statement.
The TUCP said they will formally announce this week their endorsement of presidential, vice-presidential, and senatorial candidates in the May 9 elections.
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