Kiko Pangilinan bares 6 opposition candidates in 2019 senatorial polls

Senator Francis Pangilinan announced Monday the six candidates the former ruling Liberal Party will field in the 2019 senatorial elections.

Pangilinan, LP President, said included in their 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.

He said they will be part of the Resistance Coalition.

He said they are still trying to convince actress Agot Isidro to run for the Senate.

He did not say if ousted Chief  Justice Lourdes Sereno will be included in the line up but he noted that: “We have to have strong women in our ticket.”

“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.

Sought for comment, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters: “Good luck to them.”

Pangilinan said the candidates will resist anti-people policies of the government.

“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.

Pangilinan said the challenge for the candidates is to bring the issues to the people.

“So hamon sa atin ito. Kinakailangan ipaabot sa taumbayan ‘yung mga issues na palagay natin ay dapat tinutugunan na hindi natutugunan,” he added.

Aside from LP, he said the coalition of opposition parties includes Akbayan, Magdalo, and the organization Tindig Pilipinas.

“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.

He added that Vice President Leni Robredo, LP chairperson, is involved in the coalition-building process. — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News