Opposition coalition presents 8 senatorial aspirants for 2019 polls

Led by Vice President Leni Robredo, the opposition coalition on Wednesday formally presented its senatorial aspirants for the 2019 midterm elections.

Those who will run under the opposition slate include former Senator Mar Roxas, former Quezon Representative Erin Tañada, Maranao advocate Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, incumbent Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, and former Solicitor-General Florin Hilbay.

Also attending the event were former President Benigno Aquino III, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo.

LOOK: Ex-Pres Benigno Aquino is also here in Marikina for the formal presentation of opposition senatorial bets. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/BMFzcRqqQG

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) October 24, 2018

Robredo, the chairperson of the Liberal Party (LP), underscored that the opposition has remained alive despite being supposedly threatened by the present administration.

“Marami pong nagsasabi na hindi madaling maging oposisyon ngayon, 'yung naglalakas-loob na magreklamo, tumuligsa...  niyuyurakan, minamaliit, kinukulong," Robredo said in her speech.

"Sa kabila ng kahirapan, marami pa din ang naninindigan at lumalaban. Maraming nagsasabi tulog ang oposisyon pero buhay na buhay po ang oposisyon," she added.

Robredo said that while all eight candidates come from different walks of life, they are one in their desire to serve the country and the Filipinos.

"Marami din po tayong iba-ibang paniniwala, maraming ibang tinatayuan pero ngayong umaga pinapakita natin na handa natin isantabi 'yung lahat ng pagkakaiba para sa bayan," she said.

“‘Yung ating ilalaban na walo, iba't-iba rin 'yung pinanggalingan... lahat po sila di matatawaran ‘yung kakahayan. Hindi po matatawaran ang kakayahan, hindi lang sa salita kung hindi sa pinakita nila na track record," Robredo added.

Relating to her own experience in the 2016 national election, she admitted that these candidates are not as popular as the others, but she believes that they will win as long as the public would unite for them.

"Marami pong nagsasabi na napakahirap ng laban nila. Pero ako na po mismo siguro 'yung halimbawa, noong una po akong humarap sa inyo lahat nagsasabi, 'wala 'yang pag-asa.' Pero dahil sa pagkakaisa, naging posible 'yung one percent to vice president," Robredo said.

"Kung naging posible po 'yun nung 2016, wala pong dahilan kung bakit hindi po natin maipapanalo 'yung ating walo, basta po tayo nagkakaisa," Robredo added.

She also admitted that it was not easy to pick the candidates who will represent the opposition slate for the coming election.

“Hindi po naging madali ang proseso. Maraming diskusyon, maraming debate para makabuo ng walo na handa nating ipaglaban sa iba pang mga kandidato," Robredo said.

The Vice President also urged the public to be vigilant and not commit the mistakes they had made during the previous election.

“Ano ba 'yung mga dahilan kung bakit binoto natin 'yung mga kandidato noong 2016? Sana po ngayong 2019 kung may pagkakamali man tayong nagawa noong eleksyon 2016, panahon po ito para itama 'yung ating mali," Robredo said.

"Hindi po tayo magpapadala sa tamis ng salita, hindi po tayo magpapadala sa dami ng pangako. Tingnan po natin sino-sino 'yung ating iboboto," she added.

Opposition bets

In front of a number of supporters and their families, the eight candidates were presented in Parang, Marikina. Of the eight candidates, only Roxas was unable to attend the event. The former senator and Interior secretary instead sent in a video message.

According to Aquino, Roxas was abroad: "I think he's abroad, sa pagkakaalam ko nahuli 'yung kaniyang desisyon na tatakbo and he had already scheduled a trip."

Diokno, chairperson of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), vowed to improve the present justice system in the Philippines.

“Talagang napakahina ng justice system... bakit hindi ito nagiging bahagi ng justice agenda? Justice after all is about accountability. Justice after all is about empowering the poor,” Diokno said.

The sole female candidate of the opposition coalition is Gutoc-Tomawis, a Marawi civic leader and a women’s rights advocate.

It was Gutoc-Tomawis who reported before the Congress the alleged human rights violations committed under military rule in Mindanao.

She resigned from her post as member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) due to a rape joke remarked by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Ang mahalaga po sa amin ay wala na pong martial law. Ang naranasan po namin sa Marawi ay di dapat maranasan kahit saan sa Pilipinas,” Gutoc-Tomawis said.

Macalintal, on the other hand, promised to strengthen the government’s support and benefits given to senior citizens.

Tañada, meanwhile, stressed the importance of determining the solutions for the increasing prices of basic goods as it has burdened the poor sector.

He noted that those who eyes government position must know how to listen to the sentiments of the public.

“Importante po na ang gobyerno ay nakikinig sa mga mamamayan. Umaaray na po sila dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin. Umaaray na po sila sa paghahanap ng bigas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hilbay mentioned his role in the Philippine victory against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea, even as he vowed to fight for what is right for Filipinos.

A former soldier, Alejano urged Filipinos to choose candidates who have genuine intentions for citizens, noting that it is not important if a candidate is rich or poor.

"Ang challenge po natin sa taong-bayan... there are many deserving servants of the country but they don’t have the capacity to win elections. Talo pa sila ng mayayaman," Alejano said.

“‘Yung kabutihan mananaig sa kasamaan, mananaig ang tama laban sa mali, kailangan ipaglaban ang kinabukasan..." he added.

Aquino, meanwhile, called on voters to look and consider the track record of the opposition candidates as he emphasized that these individuals truly want to serve the country.

"We're showing eight individuals na sa tingin naman po namin ay may maipagmamalaki, may mga pangarap para sa bayan. Hinihikayat po namin 'yung taong-bayan po na tingnan po 'yung kasama natin sa koalisyon," he said.

"Right now when you look at the eight people po na kasama natin, magaganda po 'yung track record, malilinis, nandiyan po 'yung hangarin para sa bayan," Aquino added.

Robredo earlier pronounced that it would be an “uphill climb” for the opposition candidates in the 2019 polls due to Duterte’s popularity.

A total of 152 individuals filed Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for senator before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last week.

The poll body is set to release the official list of candidates for next year’s poll by December. — MDM, GMA News