Akbayan seeks to field Senate bets to boost opposition headcount

Akbayan Party held its 9th Regular Congress on Thursday, August 1, 2024 bringing hundreds of members across the country and opposition figures such as Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and former Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Etta Rosales. (INQUIRER.net/DIANNE SAMPANG)

MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan party-list organization revealed on Thursday its plans for the 2025 midterm national and local elections, emphasizing the need to bring more opposition leaders to the Senate.

Akbayan President Rafaela David made the pronouncement in the 9th Regular Congress of the party, highlighting the importance of continuing to advance their advocacies and legislative agenda.

“Sisiguraduhin natin na dapat may kasama si Senator Risa Hontiveros sa Senado bilang parte ng demokratikong oposisyon kasi mahalagang may katuwang ang senadora sa kanyang adbokasiya at ipinapasang batas,” David said in an ambush interview.

(We will ensure that Senator Risa Hontiveros has a democratic opposition ally in the Senate to continue her advocacies and legislation.)

Hontiveros is the chairman emeritus of Akbayan.

When asked if the group had an initial list of senatorial bets, David answered that the party would select the persons they would support.

“Ipo-proseso natin (yan) sa kongreso in the next two days (kung) sino ‘yung susuportahan ng ating partido,” she said.

(We will process that in Congress in the next two days on who the party will support.)

“Pero klaro na inimbitahan natin sa ating pagtitipon ngayong umaga si former Senator Bam Aquino, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, at si Chel Diokno na tayo ay naniniwala ay makakadagdag sa boses ng ating demokratikong oposisyon sa senado,” David said.

(But it is clear that we invited, in our gathering this morning, former Senator Bam Aquino, [former] Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and Chel Diokno, who we believe will add to the voice of the democratic opposition in the Senate.)

READ: Pangilinan, Aquino, Diokno to run for Senate in 2025, says LP’s de Lima

While David did not explicitly say that the three would be automatically included in their senatorial lineup, she hopes that the members of the Akbayan party will rally behind them.

The three are the initial senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party.

READ: Lone opposition winner braces for ‘most exciting part’

David listed the qualities of the ideal Akbayan candidate.

“Klaro sa atin na dapat kapareho ng ating pinaninindigan at pinaglalaban na demokrasya, ang karapatang pantao at gayun din ay ipinaglalaban na isyu ng mga sektor,” she said.

(It is clear to us that they should bear the same principles we hold and the fight for democracy that we are waging, human rights and the issues that sectors are fighting for.)