Actress Agot Isidro, known for her acerbic comments against the Duterte administration, is being wooed to join the senatorial lineup of the “Resistance Coalition,” an alliance of Liberal Party (LP), Akbayan and Magdalo party-list groups, and Tindig Pilipinas.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Isidro, who graduated magna cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and who holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Ateneo de Manila University, would be a good fit for the Senate as a representative of the arts and culture sector.
Isidro, whose frequent posts on Twitter were critical of President Duterte and who also tussles with his supporters, has not publicly indicated any interest in seeking a Senate seat.
READ: Agot Isidro to DDS wishing her death: ‘Your threats, insults make me stronger’
If she accepts the invitation to run for senator, she will join five others on the prospective list: reelectionist Sen. Bam Aquino, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, Free Legal Assistance Group chair Jose Manuel Diokno, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, and former Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, according to Pangilinan.
“One cannot measure the competence and service of those on our list who will run under the banner of the true opposition,” the LP president said in a statement.
“These six have served the country, and by running they will stake themselves for the lives and livelihood of Filipinos,” he added in Filipino.
READ: ‘Resistance’ to field slates in 2019 polls
Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who was defeated by President Duterte in the 2016 elections, has declined to join the LP senatorial slate.
“He (Roxas) has declined to be included in the slate and we respect this. There are others convincing him to rethink his position,” Pangilinan said in a text message.
Asked about the possible inclusion of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in the opposition slate, Pangilinan said: “We have to have strong women in our ticket.”
He said the LP was in discussions with other groups.
“It can’t be just LP. It should be based on the issues that we’ll be upholding. We are in talks with Akbayan, with Magdalo…Tindig Pilipinas is part of the talks. And we’re still discussing and reaching out to other groups,” Pangilinan said.
The LP chair, Vice President Leni Robredo, is also involved in the coalition-building process, he said.
In the statement, Pangilinan said the Resistance Coalition would highlight a number of issues against the administration.
“Bottom-line is the resistance to what? The resistance to encroachment of China on our sovereignty, in our sovereign waters. The resistance to extra-judicial killings, which is still happening. Of course, resistance to corruption. And resistance to the lack of emphasis on creating jobs and addressing the rising prices of goods,” he said.
Pangilinan said the challenge for the candidates was how to bring these issues to the people.
“We will need to raise with the people these issues that we feel need to be addressed but are not being addressed,” he said. /ee