Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano filed on Monday his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), as he seeks a seat at the Senate in the 2019 elections.
Alejano was accompanied by his partymate Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
In filing his COC, Alejano said the Senate should have more lawmakers who would strengthen the country’s democracy.
“Bakit kailangan po nating tumakbo para sa 2019? We need independent-minded members of the Senate. Kailangan natin pagtibayin ang policies ng ating demokrasya,” he said in a press briefing.
(Why do we need to run in 2019? We need independent-minded members of the Senate. We need to strengthen the policies of our democracy.)
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano waves to supporters as he arrives at the Comelec before filing his COC for senator. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
He added that Filipinos need a senator who would stand up for their rights.
“Kailangan nating tumayo para sa taumbayan na walang boses. Kailangan nating ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan (We need to stand up for the people who don’t have a voice. We need to fight for their rights),” Alejano said.
He was also joined by his supporters, who wore white and red and carried flags bearing the Magdalo logo, outside the Comelec building.
In April, Trillanes announced that the Magdalo group would push for Alejano’s senatorial bid next year.
READ: For Magdalo, it’s Alejano for senator
“The reason we are pushing Alejano to run for senator this 2019 is so that there will be someone to stand agains the Duterte administration,” Trillanes said. /cbb