II. POLITICAL PROGRAM

The question of controlling the powers exercised by government is central to liberal thinking. We believe that these powers are best discharged as near as possible to the individuals and the communities they most affect. We aim to give individuals the greatest possible control ever their own destiny to enable them to be directly responsible for their own actions.

Our vision of society stresses the concept of community – defined primarily by locality but also with reference to interest and occupation. It is at the level of community that the individual will understand his proper relationships with, and responsibilities to others. The challenge is in discovering how government can act to foster this sense of community and to help individuals discover and develop the communities in which they feel most satisfied without fostering a sectarianism that is the obverse of community power.

The first and foremost way is through the decentralization of government, increasing the power and rights of the individual and making government accountable. Another way is by encouraging a plural and diverse civic society.

The ‘intermediate institutions’ of pressure groups, professional associations and trade unions, clubs and societies, non-governmental voluntary organizations, a free press, churches and other organizations should be independent and free from coercion, able to promote their own views whether or not these accord with those of government. The only justification for placing restraint upon their activities should be if they interfere with the liberties of others. A flourishing network of such institutions helps to promote non-conformity and a diversity of viewpoints, which can only enrich society.

Finally, the role of the law, and of education, in developing people’s rights and opportunities should not be underestimated. Respect for the freedoms and rights of others can be fostered not only by a sense of community, but also by a strong, effective and fair framework for the protection of the rights and freedoms of each individual. Tolerance will only flourish – and perhaps even survive – in the absence of fear.

In the light of all these, we shall undertake the following:

5. Peace and Human Rights

Liberals envision a Philippine society that is just and peaceful. We recognize that the root of the festering political conflicts in our country may be traced to unjust and oppressive social and economic structures. Thus, the attainment of a just and lasting peace is an aspiration that is its own reward. The government will create an environment where the rule of law is supreme and where every man can seek and get justice.

Human rights are a powerful weapon for social transformation. In the quest for a better future, people articulate their aspirations in terms of human rights. Because of this it is recognized by all as being Universal. It is the language by which the various struggles of marginalized groups are articulated. In a world of inequality, human rights are a natural weapon of the oppressed, the exploited and the disadvantaged. The inherent dignity of humanity, which is at the core of human rights, is now recognized globally.

There exists a well-defined nucleus of human rights which are meant to spare individuals the worst infringements upon their personal integrity. There can be no compromising when it comes to the fundamental rights of the person –life, liberty, protection from slavery and arbitrary deprivation of liberty, protection and discrimination. There is no political reality or social order that can ever justify infringement upon fundamental human rights. Under no circumstances can the fundamental rights of the individual be sacrificed.

Human rights form the most convincing path to peace between people, as well as between states. Today’s debate on human rights does not principally revolve around their overall right to recognition, but is centered on the question of how they can be implemented to the greatest extent possible. Whether human rights are worthy of support is no longer the issue, but rather –how they are to be achieved. Politics –including the politics of human rights – is always about making genuine improvements to actual conditions.

The immediate task is to establish the conditions for a genuine a human rights regime in the country. We need to build the necessary infrastructure for human rights advocacy in our society from the local to the national levels, whether these be governmental or non-governmental. A liberal government shall always adhere to, defend, respect, promote and preserve the human rights of all its citizens. This is why we are committed to deepening the institutions of our democracy.

Only a genuine democratization can engender a progressive respect for human rights because the citizens themselves will develop an understanding their rights and correspondingly demand their recognition by the State. It is important that democratization is seen as one of the most effective strategies for achieving the implementation of human rights. As a consequence we must promote that democratization. There is a direct connection between opting for human rights and making the major decision on a system such as a participatory democracy and a social market.

Thus, measures towards building up a free-market oriented society is always an aid to the promotion of human rights. A market economy is not possible without recognition of basic economic human rights. A free-market presupposes economic freedom, and people who take advantage of this freedom and therefore achieve success will demand participation in political decision-making and the protection of their non-economic freedoms. The birth of an economically successful and concomitantly self-reliant people can help attain the hopes of democratic development.

Because of our recent history, Filipino liberals believe that the Philippines has a role to play in promoting human rights and democracy in Asia. We must contribute constructively to the development of regional mechanisms for human rights protection, and create the conditions for supporting the democratic struggles in the region by advancing the cause of human rights. We have the ability to influence the direction and substance of human rights advocacy in the region as well as in the world by contributing to developments in international human rights both within and outside the United Nations.

In the light of all these, we shall:

• Realize a negotiated political settlement with all forces engaged in armed conflict with the state to ensure a just and lasting peace.

• Establish institutions for the full protection of the people’s civil, political, social, and economic rights guaranteed in the Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and International Covenants, grant freedom to all political prisoners, and work for the abolition of death penalty.

• Overall and reorient the military and police organizations; the military shall be a force for national defense, and in times of peace shall be utilized for civic and social projects; the police shall be fully de-militarized and professionalized;

• Reorganize the judiciary and prosecution services to weed out all incompetent and corrupt judges and public prosecutors; improve the quality of judicial officials trough a system of continuing legal education;

• Guarantee full respect for the civil and political rights of the person especially those involving criminal investigation. Including fundamental due process requirements, presumption of innocence, and rights of persons in custody of police forces.

• Reorganize the Independence of the Commission of Human Rights and implement measures leading to strengthening its Constitutionally mandated role of advancing and protecting human rights. Providing sufficient resources for its operations as well as for adequate compensation of victims of human rights violations.

• Advocate for the Establishment of a Regional Mechanism for Human Rights in the South East Asia region and participate actively in promoting human rights and democracy in other parts of the world. Prioritize negotiations and ratification of international human rights instruments and encourage other states to do the same.

6. Strengthening of Local Autonomy

The 1987 Constitution mandates that all local governments – autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays shall enjoy local autonomy. Autonomous regions however shall enjoy a higher level of autonomy, that is, political autonomy. The 1991 Local Government Code has defined the powers of local governments, provided for the transfer of national functions to local governments (devolution), delegated central authority to regional offices (deconcentration), institutionalized participation of the civil society in local governance and administration (democratization), allocated the resources amongst the local governments (fiscal autonomy).

Local autonomy is key to national development. Without local autonomy, integrated national development cannot be fully achieved. Conversely, there can be no genuine local autonomy without national development. Both local autonomy and integration must be guaranteed and pursued together while respecting and balancing the powers and responsibilities of local governments on one hand and the national government on the other.

In order to achieve this two-pronged approach, the Party believes that:

• A system of power sharing between political subdivisions and central agencies must be clearly defined and operationalized. Conflicts between them on issues involving integration and those which cuts across boundaries must be resolved in favor of the central government while those purely local in favor of the local governments.

• Decentralization must be strengthened. Powers of local governments must be recognized to include not only those powers delegated to them by law but also those powers in furtherance of the general welfare and those not otherwise prohibited by law. The active nature of local governments must be encouraged.

• The private and corporate nature of local governments must be further emphasized for the purpose of allowing local governments to generate revenues. This will effectively lessen dependence on national government thereby achieving real fiscal and economic autonomy.

• Democratization at the local level must be enhanced and institutionalized. The different venues for popular participation in the Local Government Code of 1991 must be fully implemented and other non-mandated modes explored and harnessed.

Strict public accountabilities of local officials, both elective and appointive must be ensured. Policies, plans, budgets and ordinances issued and enacted by local governments must be in furtherance of the general welfare, consulted with those concerned and the general public informed.

7. Democratizing Elections

Election mirrors the state of democracy of a nation. When elections are rigged or very susceptible to fraud, supervised by a commission that owes its accountability to the Administration, election laws and regulations circumvented, and where violators are not punished, there is no genuine democracy. These must be systematically and structurally addressed and remedied. As Liberals, we understand that we cannot change our collective future unless and until we change our electoral system. Because of this, we are committed to electoral and constitutional reform. We shall not rest until the government of the Philippines fully belongs to the citizen it is there to serve.

Programmatic and lasting electoral reform must be in place. This involves codifying election laws and implementing them, combating the growing culture and technology of cheating, encouraging a genuine multi-party system and professionalizing the electoral commission.

To attain genuine electoral reform, the party affirms this principles and programs:

• The Commission on Election must be operationally independent of the administration and all political parties. The integrity of the Commission must be ensured and maintained. Appointees to the Commission must be independent, credible, with election expertise and must possess management skills. Disputes and election contests must be resolved with dispatch.

• The whole election process and the selection of all elective officials must be modernized and automated. This will dramatically reduce the opportunities for cheating and manipulation.

• A genuine multi-party system must be installed and encouraged. This may be achieved through a more proportional system of electing officials to cover all levels of government where half if not all are elected under the system.

• The general public must be made aware of the problems and effects of the cheating and made part of the solution and decision-making process. Regular dialogues between elective officials and their constituents must be institutionalized.

• A new election code must be adopted operationalizing and defining absentee voting, prohibiting political dynasties, installing a full computerization of elections, stricter public accountabilities, streamlining and simplifying the election process, among others.

8. Bureaucratic Reform

The liberal vision of a sovereign, democratic and free, just and peaceful, prosperous and equitable, and environmentally protected Philippine society shall be brought about by a CLEAN, HONEST and EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT that does not compromise the law and wages a willful battle against all forms of graft and corruption. It will be a government that leads by example; that restore decency in public service; and that promotes the best national traits and uplifts the moral values of our people.

We shall establish and ensure a clean, graft-free, and efficient government with a stable and highly professional civil service.