Colmenares: Progressive candidates have greater chances of winning in 2019 polls

PHOTO by Gabriel Pabico Lalu/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna chairperson and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares has reiterated his faith in the Makabayan 11 slate, saying that independent and progressive candidates have greater chances of landing Senate seats in the upcoming polls.

According to the former lawmaker, the reason is a clear difference in the stance of opposition and the administration-backed candidates.

“Ang eleksyong ito, ito ang isa sa may pinaka-malaking tsansa ang mga progresibo at independienteng kandidato na manalo dahil klaro ang mga isyu ngayon,” Colmenares said on the sidelines of Makabayan’s meeting de avance at Plaza Miranda on Tuesday.

(In this election, the progressive and independent candidates have greater chances of winning because the issues are clear.)

“Tutol ka ba sa TRAIN law? Tutol ka ba sa pagpasok ng Tsina? Sa kontraktwalisasyon? Tutol ka ba sa Cha-cha? Ang mga isyu na ‘to, malinaw ang sagot namin dyan. No kami dyan,” he added.

(Are you against the TRAIN law? Do you oppose the entry of China? How about contractualization or Cha-cha? Our stand on these issues is clear. We say no.)

Colmenares issued the statement amid weak survey rankings for candidates from the opposition — Makabayan, Otso Diretso, and Labor Win.

Among the Makabayan-sponsored candidates, only reelectionist senators Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Bam Aquino made it to Pulse Asia’s Top 14 senatorial bets.

Former Senator Serge Osmeña landed in the 15th spot, followed by Colmenares who was ranked 21st. Other candidates, including Otso Diretso’s Samira Gutoc, Chel Diokno, Florin Hilbay, and Erin Tañada, plus Labor Win’s Sonny Matula and Leody de Guzman, were ranked in the low 20s.

Of those included in the Top 15, ten were from either PDP-Laban, which President Rodrigo Duterte supports, or Hugpong ng Pagbabago, which Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio chairs.

READ: Poe, Villar share lead in Pulse Asia senatorial survey for April

However, Colmenares said this would not be a factor, especially since the public knows why the administration-backed candidates have been hesitant to engage in a public debate.

“Pero ang mga kandidato ng administrasyon, takot sila sa debate, kasi ayaw nilang mabisto na sila ay salungat sa gusto ng bayan,” he added.

(The opposition candidates are afraid to join debates because they don’t want people to know that they are opposed to the interest of the public.) /ee