MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan Coalition aims to field a complete slate of 12 senatorial candidates in the 2025 elections.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas bared this in a press briefing on Thursday, adding that the coalition wants to tap representatives from the marginalized sectors.
Castro announced her intention to run for senator in 2025 last June 26.
READ: ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Castro to run for senator in 2025
“We will field a slate … the number of candidates will increase, it’s not only me. We will field — as Cong. Arlene said earlier — representatives of each sector, including the marginalized sector, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous people, urban poor, women, and professionals,” she said in Filipino.
“Well we’re open to more candidates, our target is to complete a 12-man slate, but we’re open to other candidates joining us or us endorsing, such things are being talked about at the level of the Makabayan Coalition,” she added.
Castro also bared that the Makabayan Coalition has been talking with like-minded parties, including Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman’s Liberal Party for a possible alliance.
“As to talks with other opposition groups, that’s currently ongoing, and we are intently studying that. Of course, our allies should have the same principles as us, we do not forge alliances just because we want to win an election,” she said.
“So our alliances with other sectors and parties are on the basis of principle … We are talking to everyone; of course, Liberal Party is part of that because we have a similar stand on several issues,” she added.
Brosas said the Makabayan also aims to provide the people with candidates who do not belong to the camp of either President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Vice President Sara Duterte.
“We are looking forward to a true opposition, that’s what we lack right now. Our choices are only Marcos or Duterte — that’s not what the Makabayan wants, we are looking for a true opposition. That’s why we are open to talking with true opposition groups, those that we know will stand for our people, and for changing the society,” she said.
“So this 2025 elections is really crucial for the Makabayan, and we are expecting that the number of candidates will increase since we need voices from peasant groups, the oppressed sector, those from the worker’s groups,” she added.
Several political groups have started forging partnerships for the 2025 elections, with Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) signing alliance agreements with House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’ Lakas-CMD and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
READ: PFP, Lakas-CMD alliance is ‘the most powerful political force’ – Romualdez
Last Tuesday, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the Nacionalista Party, which he belongs to, will also enter into an alliance with the PFP.
READ: Imee Marcos would likely be part of admin’s 2025 senatorial slate – Barbers
Last June 25, Vice President Duterte said her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and her two brothers, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, will all run for senator in 2025.
READ: VP Duterte: My father, brothers will run for senator in 2025
The Dutertes have been critical of Marcos over several issues, like the removal of confidential funds requested by the Vice President, President Marcos’ alliance with the United States, and moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Vice President Duterte resigned as secretary of the Department of Education last June 19.