Bam Aquino: Other independent senatorial bets may still join us

Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday said there is still a possibility that senatorial candidates from other opposition parties may join the Oposisyon Koalisyon (OK) slate for the 2019 elections.

However, he admitted that lengthy discussions would have to take place first.

“Kami naman po ay walo, twelve naman po ang iboboto natin (We have eight candidates, but we need to vote for 12),” Aquino said, referring to the eight-person OK line-up. “So there is space also for the other independents to come in and possibly also coalesce with us.”

The senator was answering questions why Makabayan senatorial bet Neri Colmenares was not included in the list of OK’s candidates despite being a staunch critic of the Duterte administration.

According to him, the matter should be referred to Liberal Party (LP) officials.

“You can ask Senator Kiko Pangilinan who is the campaign manager […] palagay ko na magbababago-bago pa rin (this will still change) before the official start, which is February,” Aquino explained.

“Pero itong first eight, buong puso ko pong sinasabi na maipagmamalaki natin na magtra-trabaho para sa inyo (But with the first eight candidates, we can assure you that they will work for you),” he added.

Sources from Bayan Muna, where Colmenares is chairman, said they shared the same sentiment, noting that nothing was still permanent.

Earlier, OK presented their candidates for 2019, including Aquino, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, former Rep. Erin Tañada, former Bangsamoro Transition Committee member Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II.

The candidates came from LP, Akbayan, Magdalo, Aksyon Demokratiko, Tindig Pilipinas, and other civil society groups. /ee/ac

READ: Oposisyon Koalisyon formally presents slate for 2019 polls