Mark Jimenez tries to hijack Raul Roco's old party

Money talks. Bullshit walks.

From the Tribune:

Aksiyon set to junk MJ

11/05/2006

Mark Jimenez’s entry into the fold of Aksiyon Demokratiko is on the brink of rejection.

The junking of the application of Jimenez, a former Manila congressman (6th District), for membership in Aksiyon has stemmed from his supposedly “unexplained and continuing inability to fulfill his commitments to help the party reorganize its regional, provincial and local chapters.

“While Jimenez virtually promised the moon and the stars when he first talked with party leaders several months ago, when he applied for membership, committing himself to personally undertake and supervise the strengthening of Aksiyon Demokratiko nationwied, he has suddenly refused to carry out his promises,” party leaders yesterday said in a statement.

The leaders were quoted as saying by veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza, Aksiyon Demokratiko secretary-general, that “prevailing sentiment from regional and local officials now points to the imminent rejection of (Jimenez’s application) as they are now vigorously opposing the businessman’s application for membership with the party.”

The party’s local officials are concerned with allegations that Jimenez “does not really intend to help and develop the party become the dominant opposition political party,” Sonza stressed.

They also agree that it is “unthinkable” for the party to accept Jimenez without him having complied with his commitments.”

At the same time, vice president for Luzon and lawyer Batas Mauricio bared that party leaders are questioning the real motive behind Jimenez’s plan to take over Aksiyon Demokratiko.

“They (party leaders and members) want to know whether Mark is interested in pursuing the ideals established by founder Raul Roco or he just wants to use the party to pursue his personal motives, considering his dilly-dallying” Mauricio said.

Roco, Aksiyon Demokratiko presidential candidate in the 2004 elections, died last year.

Jimenez reportedly wants to use the party as a vehicle for his mayoralty bid in the city of Manila or his intention to seek a seat in the Philippine Senate.

Aksiyon Kabataan (AK), the youth arm of the party, “believes the entry of Jimenez into the political party should be subjected to moral scrutiny given the question of his real motivation.”

In a survey, AK leaders and members unanimously rejected the entry of Jimenez into the political party established and anchored on the principle of honesty.

Here's an Oct. 29 article on Sonia Roco joining the 2007 Senate race. There some info there about Crespo joining forces with Mrs. Roco.

NAGA CITY—Sonia Malasarte Roco, the widow of the late Sen. Raul S. Roco, announced on Thursday she had decided to run for senator in the 2007 midterm elections now that the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution had been junked by the Supreme Court.

Saying she wanted to continue her husband’s concerns on women, the youth and education, Roco said she would run under Aksyon-Demokratiko, the political party of her husband in his bid for the presidency in 2004. The party is now headed by Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan.
.....
Roco said she was also open to whatever terms of cooperation they could agree on with Mark Jimenez who met with her in Legazpi City in August where the former lawmaker distributed relief goods to evacuees of the Mayon volcano eruption.

She, her brother-in-law Sulpicio Roco Jr., one-time representative of Camarines Sur’s second district and younger brother of the late senator, and Jimenez joined the relief operation in Albay.

“Mark Jimenez invited me to join him in the relief operation and I accepted,” Roco said.

She explained that Jimenez was a friend of Sulpicio’s from the House of Representatives in 2001 to 2004.

“We have not talked substantially about matters,” Roco said, referring to the possibility of forging an alliance and joining forces and resources with Jimenez.