Tanada mulls dropping out of senatorial derby over lack of LP support

Quezon 4th District Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Despite his announced plan to run for senator in the midterm elections, Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III on Thursday said that he might bow out of the race if he would not be part of the Liberal Party’s senatorial slate.

He told reporters that this was an “option” in case he is left out of the ruling party’s list of candidates to run for seats in the Senate.

“It is not easy to run without the support of your party leadership,” said the LP spokesman. He said that it would be difficult to run as an independent candidate and leaving LP and joining another party was not part of his plans.

Although the ruling party’s executive committee has yet to release its senatorial slate, Tanada said he would respect the LP’s decision even if he were left out of next year’s polls.

Asked whether he was open to assignments to other agencies of the government, Tanada said that he would also consider that possibility.