Opposition to field 6 Senate bets; Mar Roxas not running

MANILA, Philippines — The political opposition’s “Resistance Coalition” will field at least six candidates in the 2019 senatorial elections, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.

Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party (LP), said the opposition candidates so far are re-electionist Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, former Quezon congressman Erin Tañada, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano and former Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez.

Former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, losing presidential candidate in 2016 and LP stalwart, has signified to Pangilinan that he’d rather not run next year, the senator said.

Pangilinan said the party is still trying to convince actress Agot Isidro to run for senator under the opposition coalition.

Isidro has been critical of President Duterte, even calling him a “psychopath” for his blistering criticism against the United States and European Union. Duterte has accused the US and EU of interfering with the internal affairs of other countries.

Asked about the possible inclusion of former chief justice Lourdes Sereno in the opposition slate, Pangilinan said: “We have to have strong women in our ticket.” He also said the party was still unsure of Sereno’s political plans.

“There’s no question on the competence and dedication to serve the nation of those in the list of those running under the banner of the true opposition,” the senator added.

He said the six are ready to “give their all for the sake of the Filipino people.”

“Bottom-line is the resistance to what? The resistance to encroachment of China on our sovereignty, in our sovereign waters. The resistance to extrajudicial killings, which is still happening. Of course, resistance to corruption,” Pangilinan said.

“And resistance to the lack of emphasis on creating jobs and addressing the rising prices of goods,” he added.

Pangilinan said the challenge for the candidates is to bring these issues to the people.

The coalition of opposition parties includes the LP, Akbayan and Magdalo, as well as the organization Tindig Pilipinas.

“It can’t be just LP. It should be based on the issues that we’ll be upholding. We are in talks with Akbayan, with Magdalo... Tindig Pilipinas is part of the talks. And we’re still discussing and reaching out to other groups,” Pangilinan said, adding that Vice President Leni Robredo, chairperson of LP, is involved in the coalition-building process.

Malacañang yesterday wished the political opposition good luck as they prepare their senatorial ticket for the 2019 midterm polls.

“Good luck to them,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing when asked to react to the possible senatorial lineup of the opposition.– With Alexis Romero