Party-list lawmaker announces presidential bid in 2016

The 2016 presidential race has become a four-cornered fight with former ambassador and now OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres’ announcement that he, too, will be running for the country's highest elective office in the next elections.

Señeres on Thursday said he will be running with a complete slate composed of a vice presidential candidate and 12 senatorial contenders under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM).

He, however, declined to identify his running mate and the members of his senatorial slate, saying he will reveal their names “in due time.”

A former chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Señeres said he and his slate will run on the platform represented by the acronym PETTT, or "Pamilyang may Edukasyon, Trabaho, Tahanan at may laman ang mga Tiyan."

He vowed to push for ending corruption and workers’ contractualization if he will be elected president.

“On day one of his presidency, Señeres would issue an Executive Order directing all employers, especially the giant shopping malls which are owned by business tycoons, to comply with the law. Otherwise, the new government shall penalize them with fines and or imprisonment of up to three years,” a statement on the party-list lawmaker’s presidential bid read.

If his plan pushes through, Señeres will be going against Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Senator Grace Poe.

Contractual workers to become permanent

Señeres said his candidacy was in response to the manifestos filed by various overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and employees’ groups, which he said are clamoring for a candidate who will fight for their rights.

By the lawmakers’ estimates, there are around 15 million contractual workers in the country whose votes he could court.

Asked what his edge would be over more moneyed and popular presidential contenders, Señeres said: “Elect me as president, all the contractual workers in this country will become permanent employees until they reach the age of 65.”

He said he could not be considered a nuisance presidential candidate since he is a lawmaker who even managed to break into the Top 10 list of House members who garnered the highest votes in the 2013 midterm polls.

“I am an incumbent congressman. I have proven my electability when I was elected as a party-list representative. I even ranked number 8 in the party-list race with over 200 aspirants,” Señeres said.

OFW FORSE

Though his political party pales in comparison in size compared to other more established parties, Señeres is confident he will be able to bankroll a nationwide campaign with the help of supporters all over the country and even overseas.

“The OFW FORSE (Friends of Roy Señeres Everywhere) have pledged to contribute to my campaign. They even started a 'high five' sign urging their peers to contribute $5 for my campaign,” he said.

However, the lawmaker was candid enough to admit he no longer expects to gain the support of  wealthy businessmen who are sometimes tagged in the labor cases because of his pro-worker campaign platform.

"I have never fraternized with employers and tycoons in this country. I have never been beholden to them," Señeres said. —KBK, GMA News