Representative Angara hopes Tañada will stay loyal to LP

Deputy House Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III. PHOTO BY RYAN LEAGOGO

MANILA, Philippines—Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Tuesday said that he hopes Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III will stay loyal to the Liberal Party despite being left out of its senatorial slate.

Speaking to reporters during a media forum, the senatorial candidate under the administration party’s coalition urged Tañada to wait it out since he was positive “may plano si Presidente (Benigno Aquino III) para sa kanya (the President has plans for him).”

“I would wait for an offer to either a position within the cabinet or other agencies of the government,” said Angara when asked to comment on San Juan Representative Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito’s offer to endorse Tañada as part of the senatorial lineup of the United Nationalist Alliance.

UNA started its campaigns one member short after businessman Joey de Venecia decided to pullout on Monday, leaving a spot open for another candidate.

“Nasa sa kanya yun (It’s up to him) but I would advice him to stay loyal to his party and the vision of the President,” Angara said, adding that he has yet to speak with Tañada.

Despite being left out of the administration’s senatorial ticket, many of Tañada’s colleagues acknowledge that he is more than capable to run for a seat in the Senate. From Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who recently said he would have supported the Quezon lawmaker in his run for senator, to Angara who said that Tañada was “very deserving.”

“Sa dami ng gustong sumama sa coalition maraming very deserving na hindi nakasama (Because there are a lot [of deserving candidates], only few could make it). Kasama dito si Rep. Tañada (Rep. Tañada is included) and I’m hoping he gets a greater role in Cabinet or other roles within the administration,” he said.