Alejano confirms he will run for senator in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) has officially announced he will run for a seat at the Senate in the 2019 polls.

In a Twitter post Tuesday, the opposition lawmaker confirmed that he has accepted the nomination of the Magdalo Group to run for senator.

“I am grateful for the trust and confidence of my colleagues in Magdalo, especially Senator [Antonio IV] Trillanes for the nomination. I humbly submit to the direction and wisdom of the group as we have always decided collectively on important issues affecting our country,” Alejano said.

He vowed that he would carry on Magdalo’s fight for good governance and a corruption-free nation. Before it registered as a party-list, Magdalo was known for launching mutinies against the Arroyo administration in 2003 and in 2007.

Alejano and other members of the Magdalo were granted amnesty in 2010 under a presidential proclamation that Congress concurred in.

“Further, I believe that the country needs more independent-minded members of the Senate to speak for the people, stand up for democracy, defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity and craft policies to these ends,” Alejano said.

He added: “This is imperative now, seeing that most seem to be silent and indifferent to the abuses of the Duterte administration and its apparent subservience to China.”

The former Marine officer has been critical of the government’s soft stance in the South China Sea dispute.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Liberal Party president, earlier named Alejano as one of the potential candidates of the “Resistance” coalition, along with Sen. Bam Aquino, former Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, LP Vice President for External Affairs Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada and De La Salle University College of Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno.

Actress Agot Isidro, who often criticizes the government and President Rodrigo Duterte, is also being tapped to join the opposition lineup.

Alejano is the first among potential senatorial candidates to formally declare that he will run.

READ: Alejano, Agot Isidro among possible candidates of ‘Resistance’ coalition