Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Three senators seeking reelection, one returning legislator, and candidate in the 2019 elections have been officially nominated by the Liberal Party (LP) to its senatorial slate during its National Executive Council (NECO) meeting held on Tuesday.
Nominated through a resolution approved by the NECO were the following:
- party president and Senator Francis Pangilinan
- Senator Leila de Lima
- Senator Risa Hontiveros
- former senator Bam Aquino
- human rights lawyer Chel Diokno
“First on the meeting’s agenda was the formal nomination of former Sen. Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV and re-electionists Sen. Pangilinan and Sen. De Lima as among the Party’s initial list of senatorial candidates,” the LP said in a statement.
Sen. Leila de Lima and Sen. Bam Aquino (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON)
“Former Sen. Aquino is yet to announce plans to file for candidacy as senator,” it added.
Another resolution was passed to endorse Hontiveros and Diokno as candidates from outside LP.
“LP also passed a resolution endorsing Akbayan Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Atty. Chel Diokno as part of its initial list of guest senatorial candidates, citing them as ‘candidates from outside [LP’s] ranks, who are aligned with its principles and values and as such are reliable partners in advancing its program of government’,” LP noted.
Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)
The meeting was attended virtually by key LP officials, including party chairperson Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon, Rep. Kit Belmonte, former lawmakers Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada, and several other elected officials.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros
Earlier, LP also revealed that the NECO passed a resolution giving Robredo “full authority and discretion” to conduct talks and agreements to talk with other opposition stakeholders in the 2022 presidential race, in support of her vision to create a broad coalition.
Robredo said she is mulling over a presidential bid in 2022, but she also opened the possibility of her running for a local post instead, or totally retiring from politics.
Vice President Leni Robredo (INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)
Robredo said that she is not yet giving up the plan to form a united opposition, as there is still time to unite before October 8 or the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections.