Bam Aquino: LP should ‘start fresh‘ after poll loss

Sen. Bam Aquino (File photo from his Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — After a sweeping victory of administration-backed senatorial bets in the recently-concluded midterm elections, outgoing Senator Bam Aquino believes the Liberal Party should revamp its approach.

“Honestly, everything’s on the table because more or less that’s what this election says eh. We have to start fresh,” Aquino, speaking partly in Filipino, said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday.

He said in reply to a question — if it was not time “retire” the Liberal Party and “put up a new one” following the May 13 elections.

“We have to be able to look at this campaign, see the little points of light, and build from there and everything else that had bad effects or dragged down the campaign. Let’s get rid of them and really start fresh. I think that’s something that’s exciting, that’s something that’s very doable and I think that is something a lot of people are looking for also,” the senator added.

In the midterm elections, nine out of the 12 senators who won were backed by the administration.

Aquino fell short from securing a spot in the winning circle in the 14th spot.

What’s next for Bam?

After failing to secure another term in the Senate, Aquino said he would likely go back to his roots of helping small businesses and focus on his advocacy on education and the youth.

“I think I’ll return what I’m used to doing — helping small businesses, youth, education. The things I did in the Senate are not too far removed from what I want to do in real life.”

“I was having lunch with one of my mentors and really good friends and they were giving me advice. They said: ‘The laws you did were all good. But that’s on paper. That’s policy. Maybe it’s time for you to also go down and find out how these are implemented’,” Aquino added.

Asked about his Senate staff, Aquino said: “Half of them will probably stay in the Senate. Other senators are absorbing a lot of my staff because they know my staff to be good. Everything from policy, to political, legal, communications — there’s a whole staff there that runs our office.”

Others will move on to the private sector.

“A number of people in different companies have said: ‘We want the skill set that your staff has built up over the years,’” he said. “Hopefully, by June 29, everybody will be OK where they are.”

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)