Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, President of the Liberal Party, revealed on Monday six senatorial candidates who will run under the opposition party in the 2019 midterm elections.
Among those included in the slate are re-electionist Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino, former Quezon Representative Erin Tañada, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman Chel Diokno, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, and former Akbayan party-list Representative Barry Gutierrez.
“Hindi matatawaran ang galing at paglingkod sa bayan ng nasa listahan ng mga tatakbo sa ilalim ng bandera ng tunay na oposisyon. Dati nang tumaya para sa bayan ang anim na ito, at sa kanilang pagtakbo ay muling pagtaya para sa buhay at kabuhayan nating mga Pilipino,” Pangilinan said in a press statement.
Pangilinan clarified the opposition party, which he referred to as the Resistance Coalition, is not only composed of members of the Liberal Party. Members of Akbayan, Magdalo, and the organization Tindig Pilipinas are also included in the slate.
“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,” he said.
Pangilinan added that the opposition slate will resist anti-people government policies.
“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. And resistance to the lack of emphasis on creating jobs and addressing the rising prices of goods,” he said.
The opposition party is still seeking for other candidates to complete the slate. Some possible additions are ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and actress Agot Isidro.
“We have to have strong women in our ticket,” Pangilinan said.
