9 Senate aspirants get Makabayan's endorsement

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan coalition on Sunday formally endorsed nine senatorial aspirants for the May midterm elections.

Aside from its lone senatorial bet Neri Colmenares, the Makabayan coalition said it would support five bets from the opposition slate: Chel Diokno, Erin Tañada, Sen. Bam Aquino, Samira Gutoc and Florin Hilbay.

It would also back the candidacies of Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Nancy Binay and Serge Osmeña.

During the 2016 national elections, it endorsed the tandem of then-presidential aspirant Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero.

In a statement, Makabayan stressed the need for “men and women of proven competence and integrity who can assert the Senate’s independence and push for laws that favor our people.”

“In these times of escalating efforts to stifle dissent and a rising threat of dictatorship, where impunity reigns and the system of checks and balances among the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of government is in peril, we need an independent Senate,” the coalition said.

Makabayan said it would work with the nine Senate aspirants in suspending or repealing the provision on excise tax in the tax reform law, opposing charter change, promoting human rights and due process for all and continuing the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“We hope that through this endorsement, Makabayan can contribute to the formation of a coalition of independent and opposition candidates that can provide our people the best hope for an independent and pro-people Senate,” it said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico