Pangilinan: LP not aiming to field full Senate slate

The Liberal Party (LP) is not aiming to field a complete slate of 12 senatorial candidates in the 2019 midterm elections, though it hopes its candidates could win enough seats to ensure the Senate’s independence, according to the LP president, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

“We do not need to field a full Senate slate,” Pangilinan said, in reaction to Vice President Leni Robredo’s statement doubting the ability of the former ruling party to come up with 12 bets next year.

The LP, he said, is talking with several groups and organizations so they can form an opposition coalition in the elections.

“If we can get eight of our candidates to win, we would have 12 opposition senators after May 2019,” Pangilinan said in a text message on Sunday night.

“That would be enough to ensure greater independence on the part of the Senate as an institution and to ensure we are able to effectively fulfill our duty to act as a check and balance on the executive department,” he said.

Six senators, including Pangilinan, belong to the opposition in the current Senate. Sen. Bam Aquino is seeking reelection, while Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV will end his term next year. —Christine O. Avendaño