Genuine Opposition

Genuine Opposition
LeaderManny Villar
FounderJejomar Binay
Founded2007 (2007)
Dissolvedc. before 2010 (c. before 2010)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Political parties
SloganIsang boto lang po, laban sa nakaupo (lit. 'One vote against the incumbent')

The Genuine Opposition (GO) was an electoral alliance in the Philippines that contested the 2007 Philippine general election. The alliance's members were in opposition to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was originally called the United Opposition (UNO), founded by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in June 2005 to unite all politicians who wanted to impeach President 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 due to the defection of senators Edgardo Angara, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, and Tito Sotto to Arroyo's senatorial slate, TEAM Unity.

In the Senate election, GO won seven of the 12 contested seats. They gained one more seat in 2011 after an electoral protest, through which GO's Koko Pimentel replaced TEAM Unity's Migz Zubiri.[1] However, GO failed to dominate the House of Representatives.

Coalition members

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Mainstream party members:

Background

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Genuine Opposition logo

The United Opposition coalition was created by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in June 2005 to unite all politicians who wished to impeach 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. In January 2007, UNO started short-listing its nominees after many 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, the 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.

Slogans

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The first slogan is "PLAN Co REVOLT" (lit. 'My Plan Is to Revolt'), meaning "Revolt against corruption and poverty". It is an acronym of the candidates' names, with P standing for Pimentel, L standing for Legarda, A standing for Alan, N standing for Noynoy, Co standing for Coseteng, R standing for Roco, E standing for Escudero, V standing for Villar, O standing for Osmeña, L standing for Lacson, and T standing for Trillanes.

The second slogan is "Isang boto lang po, laban sa nakaupo" (transl. 'One vote against the incumbent').

Senatorial slate

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Name Party Occupation Elected
Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III LP Representative from Tarlac (1998–2007); only son of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon C. Aquino (1986–1992) and the elder brother of the actress Kris Aquino. Yes
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-Pateros Ma. Laarni Lopez-Cayetano. Yes
Nikki Coseteng Independent former senator (1992–2001) and former Quezon City Representative (1987–1992). No
Francis Escudero NPC House Minority Floor Leader (2001–2007) and Representative from Sorsogon (1998–2007), Lawyer and son of former Marcos cabinet member Salvador "Sonny" Escudero. Yes
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. Yes
Loren Legarda NPC TV Personality (TV Journalist), former 2004 Vice Presidential candidate and former Senator (1998–2004). Yes
John Henry Osmeña UNO former senator (1971–1972; 1987–1995; 1998–2004). No
Koko Pimentel PDP–Laban 1990 Bar Topnotcher, Lawyer, son of Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Yes
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. No
Antonio Trillanes UNO detained military officer, leader of the Magdalo group and the leader of the Oakwood Mutiny in Makati in 2003. Yes
Manny Villar NP former Speaker of the House and former Senate President (2006–2008) and senator (2001–present). Yes

Campaign team

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See also

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  • 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.
  • Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Most Team PNoy candidates are reelected in 2019 midterm election.
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References

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  1. ^ Rood, Steven (August 10, 2011). "Philippine senator resigns seat in election controversy with deep roots". asiafoundation.org. The Asia Foundation. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
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