Liberal Party convincing Agot Isidro to run for senator in 2019

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Monday said the Liberal Party is urging actress Agot Isidro to join its coalition senatorial ticket for the 2019 mid-tern national elections.

Pangilinan said in an interview on GMA News TV's News To Go that the party already had an initial talk with Isidro, hinting that the actress may run for senator in the next elections.

"Nakausap natin initially, but pini-firm up pa niya (Isidro) ang kanyang decision kung tutuloy siya o hindi," the senator said.

He said they wanted Isidro to join the coalition ticket because the actress is "very opinionated, matapang, and we need strong women candidates."

Isidro is a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In October 2016, Isidro called Duterte a psychopath after daring the United Nations, European Union, and the United States to withdraw their aid from the Philippines amid criticism in his war on drugs.

Before calling Duterte a psychopath, Isidro became a subject of "fake news" that circulated on social media.

Potential candidates

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said the Liberal Party has not reached out to ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

"It's really up to her kung ano ang plano niya," he said.

The senator said Sereno would be a good addition to the opposition coalition's senatorial ticket.

"Like I said we do need strong women para paigtingin pa ang respeto at pagkilala sa kababaihan sa ating bansa," he said.

In the same interview, Pangilinan said LP stalward Mar Roxas has declined their offer to join the senatorial ticket.

He said other members of LP are still trying to convince Roxas to change his mind.

He said that so far, the LP has six potential senatorial candidates, including Isidro.

The other five are reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, former Quezon 4th District representative Erin Tañada, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano and Barry Gutierrez of Akbayan party-list.

"LP cannot do it alone. We really have to reach out to other forces," he said.

He said they are recruiting for the coalition ticket based on the potential candidate's stand on the daily drug-related killings, the Duterte administration's approach on the West Philippine Sea and the rising prices of basic commodities. —ALG/RSJ, GMA News