OFW party-list representative to run for president in 2016
OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres Sr. Inquirer file photo
A party-list representative on Thursday declared that he would run for president in the 2016 elections.
In a press conference, OFW Family Rep. Roy Señeres Sr. said various OFW groups have urged him to run for president, and he has decided to take on the challenge.
One of the groups who convinced Señeres to run was the OFW Friends of Roy Señeres Everywhere or OFW FORSE.
Señeres vowed to fight for the welfare of workers who are suffering from contractualization.
He said he has a complete Senate slate already which is not composed of traditional politicians or “trapos,” but of common Muslims, OFW leaders, and teachers, among others. He also said he has a vice presidential candidate who is a religious leader.
Article continues after this advertisementSeñeres, a former ambassador and chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), said he would run under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka with the slogan “Pamilyang May Edukasyon, May Trabaho, May Tahanan at May Laman ang Tiyan.”
Article continues after this advertisementHe said he may not be as popular as the other candidates, but he would push for a cause against job contractualization that would not be espoused by the other candidates who are beholden to their poll contributors.
“I have the right message. Elect me as president and the contractuals who are laid off every five months would be made permanent. Elect me as president and you will become permanent until you reach the age of 65,” Señeres said.
“Have you heard this message from other presidentiables? I doubt they can say this and I doubt they can take the cudgels for the waiters and waitresses in restaurants, because most of them are beholden to practitioners of contractualization,” he added.
Señeres vowed not to accept any campaign contributions from tycoons who abuse contractual workers.
“I have never fraternized with the employers and tycoons of this country. I have never been beholden to them… Hindi ako tatanggap ng campaign contributions (kay Henry Sy). Kasi paano ako tatanggap ng campaign contributions, that will be a conflict if I would be taking the cudgels for the exploited workers,” Señeres said.
He said he does not think he would be declared a nuisance candidate because he was an elected party-list congressman in the 16th Congress.
Before winning the party-list seat representing OFWs in 2013, Señeres served as chairman of the NLRC from 2000 to 2005. He was also United Arab Emirates Ambassador from 1994 to 1998, and Washington D.C. labor attache from 1990 to 1993. IDL
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