Akbayan supports Garcia for senator

CEBU, Philippines - Former Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel has expressed support for Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who recently announced her plan to run for the Senate in the 2013 elections.

“Masaya ako if a Visayan and more Visayans will participate in the midterm elections. Visayan man ako (in Aklan, Capiz), I am proud if more Visayans will participate,” Baraquel said in an interview during the induction of officers and new members of the Filipino Cebuano Business Club, Inc.

She also reminded the Filipino voters to take into consideration the candidate’s track records and platforms as well as weigh things carefully before casting their votes. Baraquel placed 13th among the senatorial candidates in the last elections having garnered 8.5 million votes.

She is also expected to run under the Liberal Party in the next elections. She however said that, as the coalition partner of LP, her partylist is looking forward to the final lineup of LP candidates. It is expected to be officially announced on October.

On the other hand, Baraquel appealed to the Commission on Elections to encourage first-time voters as well as those who failed to exercise their right to suffrage in the 2010 elections to actively participate in the electoral process.

“For those who did not vote before, sayang since you are already qualified to exercise your right. Now, why don’t you make your vote to be counted, make a difference and exercise your choice?” she said.

As an advocate of the AKBAYAN Youth – First-Time Voters Project, she added that it’s time for the Filipino youth to get involve with the government issues as they comprise a significant percentage in the total population of the country.

According to her, the active participation of the youth during elections empowers them to be involved in the national and economic development, developing civic-culture consciousness among them.

As one of the authors and prominent supporter of the Reproductive Health Bill, on the other hand, Baraquel noted that President Benigno Aquino III and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte are also hoping that the deliberation of such bill will be over. 

Aware of the participation of the Senate in the approval of the bill, she said that AKBAYAN respects the side of anti-RH Bill Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile but appeals to exercise the essence of democracy to undergo a voting process.

“We will practically beg him on bended knees na paabutin sa botohan. Whatever is the outcome, if we will succeed, it will be a law. If we lose the votes, we will accept. Botohan lang ang hinihingi namin,” she said. (FREEMAN)