Robredo wants 12th candidate in Senate slate to be from marginalized sector

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo on Friday said she wants the 12th member of her 2022 Senate slate  candidate to “represent the marginalized sector” and that Bayan Muna chairperson and former Rep. Neri Colmenares and labor leader Sonny Matula are being considered.

Robredo also announced the 11 candidates included in her senatorial slate for next year’s elections, which includes “rivals” former Vice President Jejomar Binay and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“Kung napapansin nyo yung number 12 wala pa. ‘Yung number 12 gusto sana namin who will best represent the marginalized sectors,” Robredo said.

(If you will notice, the 12th slot is still vacant. We want the 12th candidate to be someone who will best represent the marginalized sectors.)

“We have a number of nominees already pero gusto sana namin hindi ito desisyon ko lang… Gusto natin bigyan ng mas maraming boses yung mas maraming tao at niru-run by natin ito sa groups na nakikiisa sa atin,” she added.

(We have a number of nominees already but I should not be the only one to decide on this. We want to hear the voice of more people who are one with us.)

Asked if among the choices for the 12th slot are Colmenares and Matula who was earlier reported to be in talks with Robredo regarding next year’s elections, the Vice President responded in the affirmative.

Robredo, however, said there are four to five nominees for the last slot in their senatorial line-up.

“Ayokong pangunahan kasi yung proseso ay tuloy-tuloy pa. Syempre kung may mga concerns na inihahain sa amin, kailangan naming pakinggan ‘yung mga concerns na inihahain,” Robredo said.

(I do not want to pre-empt because the process is still ongoing. If there are concerns lodged before us, we need to listen to those concerns.)

Robredo said they have alliances with a number of urban poor, women, and labor groups which she met with over the past week.

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