Anti-Corona lawmakers endorse Fariñas, Angara, Tañada, Hontiveros, others

Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Fariñas. SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines—Movement 188, a group of lawmakers who supported the impeachment complaint against ousted chief magistrate Renato Corona, is endorsing Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Fariñas to run for senator in the 2013 midterm polls.

Movement 188 is composed of the 188 members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona, which led to his ouster by a 20-3 vote at the Senate impeachment court.

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday that the members of the group have agreed on endorsing Fariñas and other lawmakers who supported the impeachment such as Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara, Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, former Akbayan Rep Risa Hontiveros, TESDA secretary-general Joel Villanueva, and Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

Asked whether they have spoken to Fariñas, Evardone said that they have told him about their endorsement and that the lawmaker was considering it.

“I hope we can convince Cong. Rudy (Fariñas),” he added, pointing out that there was no question about the lawmaker’s competence in his work in the government.