Oposisyon Koalisyon formally presents slate for 2019 polls

Vice President Leni Robredo (middle) presents opposition candidates (from left) Gary Alejano, Bam Aquino, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tañada, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc and Romeo Macalintal at a gathering in Marikina city. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / Grig C. Montegrande

The eight-person senatorial slate of the Opposition Koalisyon (OK), composed of various anti-administration groups, was formally introduced to the public on Wednesday.

Liberal Party (LP) stalwarts human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, former Rep. Erin Tañada, reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc, Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, and independent candidate lawyer Romulo Macalintal were presented in Marikina.

And despite the recent standings of OK’s bets in a recent survey, LP Chair and Vice President Leni Robredo has remained confident of their candidate’s chances in the 2019 election, citing her campaign for the vice presidency as a prime example.

“Yung walo na siguro hindi masyadong kilala, marami po yung nagsasabi napakahirap ng laban nila kasi mas makapangyarihan, mas kilala yung kanilang mga kalaban,” she said.

“Pero ako na po siguro yung pinakamalaking halimbawa.  No’ng ako po ay kumakandidato no’ng 2016, lahat nagsasabi wala raw kapaga-pagasa […] nag-umpisa ako na one percent.  Pero dahil po sa pagkakaisa natin, dahil po sa tulong niyong lahat, naging posible ‘yong one percent,” she added

LP Chair and Vice President Leni Robredo earlier said that it would not be an issue if the LP had less than 12 senatorial candidates, saying that they would not complete the list just for the sake of fielding a full slate.

Of OK’s line-up, Aquino and Roxas held Senate seats prior to 2019, while the rest are first-time senatorial candidates. Four have not held any elective positions (Diokno, Gutoc, Hilbay, Macalintal).

Opposition candidates (from left) Bam Aquino, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tañada, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc and Romeo Macalintal present themselves to the public at a gathering in Marikina city on Oct. 24, 2018. INQUIRER.NET / GABRIEL PABICO LALU

Pulse Asia surveys predicted that only Roxas would enter the top 11 to 17 ranks if elections were held last September. Aquino placed at the 18 to 23 ranks, Tañada was at 36 to 46, Diokno and Alejano at 44 to 62, Macalintal at 45 to 63, and Hilbay at 57 to 66.

READ: Poe tops Pulse Asia 2019 senatorial pre-election survey

Then, there is the issue of inexperience: of OK’s line-up made up of LP, Akbayan, Magdalo, Aksyon Demokratiko, and Tindig Pilipinas, only Aquino and Roxas held Senate seats prior to 2019.

The rest are first-time senatorial candidates, while four have not held any elective positions (Diokno, Gutoc, Hilbay, Macalintal).

Robredo countered, saying that the candidates’ track records and capabilities would prove that they are worthy of holding public office.

“Iyong atin pong ilalaban na walo, iba’t iba din iyong pinanggalingan. May mga dati nang nahalal, may mga unang pagkakataon ay sasabak sa halalan. Pero lahat po sila hindi matatawaran ang kakayahan. Hindi po matatawaran ang kakayahan, hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa pinakita nila na track record,” she said.

She also stressed that her opponents for the 2016 vice presidential race were more powerful and more known but she still prevailed.

“Kung naging posible po yun ng 2016, wala rin pong dahilan kung bakit hindi po natin hindi maipapanalo yung ating walo,” Robredo said.

Earlier, LP officials said that it was mulling whether there is a need to complete the senatorial slate, as they believe it would not be an issue if OK had less than 12 senatorial candidates.  Robredo added that they would focus on quality, and would not list candidates just for the sake of fielding a full slate. /cbb/muf

READ: Quality over quantity: Robredo says LP can field less than 12 senatorial bets

READ: LP fields Aquino, Diokno, Tañada for 2019 Senate race