“Good to know that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has come to their senses.”

This was Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate and spokesperson Atty. Adel Tamano’s statement with regard to the latest move of the COMELEC to enlist the help of celebrities for its voter education campaign.

Earlier this month, the COMELEC hinted that celebrities endorsing political candidates should either go on leave or resign. Tamano lambasted the COMELEC’s move saying that celebrities are covered by the same rights to express their opinions and support candidates that they like.

“I’m glad that instead of irking the entertainment world, the COMELEC now has plans of forging an alliance. The COMELEC should remember that celebrity endorsers serve an important purpose for lesser known candidates like myself by acting as the bridge to introduce a worthy but less known candidate. Similarly, our celebrity friends can also act as the bridge to promote voters’ education,” Tamano said.

Tamano cited celebrities like Ogie Alcasid and Robin Padilla who can really help spread information on the processes involved in the automated balloting.

“Ogie and Robin have undeniable star power and they can use that power to help educate the Filipino voters,” Tamano underscored.

Tamano garnered the endorsements of Alcasid and Padilla.

In his TVC endorsement, Alcasid said that he’s confident with Tamano’s qualifications as a lawyer, Harvard graduate, university president and Muslim-Mindanaoan. The popular Filipino actor-singer emphasized that he trusts Tamano and that he believes Tamano can bring brain power to the Senate.

Padilla, on the other hand, has expressed his strong support for Tamano. Padilla said that it’s high time that someone from Muslim Mindanao should be back in the Senate. Tamano is the first ever Filipino Muslim to graduate from Harvard Law School.

Atty. Adel Tamano emphasizes need to combat HIV/AIDS, urges government to make condoms readily available

“Combating HIV/AIDS is one of the MDGs. RP will be the laughing stock if we fail by 2015”

Following reports from the Department of Health (DOH) indicating a sharp increase in the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in the country especially in the 25-34 age group, senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano has urged the Philippine government to make condoms readily available especially to the poor.

“Distributing condoms is all about health services, responsibility and protection. We don’t want to become like African countries with epidemics,” the Nacionalista Party senatorial bet and spokesperson emphasized.

“Let’s not forget that combating HIV/AIDS is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that we need to achieve by 2015. This is not a mere secondary task of the Philippine government. It is a primary task, it is something that the government promised the rest of the world to do,” Tamano explained.

“While it’s true that our country is facing so many challenges, we should remain steadfast in achieving the MDGs. We owe it to our fellow Filipinos. The Philippines will be the laughing stock if we fail by 2015,” Tamano added.

The MDGs are international development goals signed by and agreed upon by 192 United Nations-member states and at least 23 international organizations to be achieved by the year 2015. The eight goals are 1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) achieve universal primary education, 3) promote gender equality and empowering women, 4) reduce child mortality, 5) improve maternal health, 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, 7) ensure environmental sustainability and 8) develop a Global Partnership for Development.

Meanwhile, the constitutional law professor and former president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila also lauded the Department of Labor and Employment’s plan to intensify its advocacy against HIV/AIDS.

Senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano has criticized the army in relation to the controversial arrest of 43 health workers on February 6, 2010 from a health training seminar in Morong, Rizal, branding the army’s statements as “plainly stupid.”

“The military spokesman’s statement on a TV interview that the health workers were helping communist rebels or are rebels as well is not only plainly stupid but also misunderstands the work of health workers,” Tamano emphasized.

Tamano’s reaction comes after the non-appearance of the group now dubbed as the “Morong 43.” Despite the Supreme Court’s order on Thursday ordering the military and police to present to the Court of Appeals the “Morong 43,” not one detainee showed up Friday. The group is currently detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Col. Aurelio Baladad, Commanding officer of the 202^nd Infantry Brigade, appeared before the court instead and explained that the AFP did not have enough resources to immediately transport 43 “high risk” detainees.

“That reasoning is preposterous. Are you saying that the AFP, the very same group that’s supposed to defend the country, is that incapable of tapping resources?,” Tamano slammed.

“Some of the people illegally arrested and detained by the military are Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) graduates who were merely providing health services and training to the poor. As president of PLM, we have always oriented our graduates towards public service and a preferential option for the poor. Because of this, our health workers are arrested and detained in violation of law,” Tamano said.

“There is no politics in health work – you provide health service to all in need, no matter what political orientation. Even convicted criminals get health services. The health workers should be released immediately,” Tamano added.