LP to announce senate bets on Oct. 9, says Pangilinan

Senator Francis Pangilinan said on Tuesday that the Liberal Party (LP) will announce its senatorial candidates for the 2019 midterm polls on Oct. 9.

The senator, who is also the Liberal Party president, revealed the party is still in talks with Akbayan, Magdalo, Tindig Pilipinas, Aksyon Demokratiko and groups and organizations that will form an opposition coalition in the 2019 midterm polls.

Among the possible candidates are former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Bangsamoro Commission Transition member and Marawi evacuee Samira Gutoc, Vice President Leni Robredo’s lawyer Romy Macalintal, and human rights lawyer Barry Gutierrez.

The senator, however, revealed that the party is not aiming to complete the slate of 12 senatorial candidates.

“We are looking at quality rather than quantity,” Pangilinan said in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday.

The Senator noted that the coalition is open to alliances with other political parties as long as they share the party’s stand on issues such as the resistance to extrajudicial killings, easing the prices of commodities and standing against Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, and the practice of contractualization. /ee