Bam Aquino eyes more opposition Senate bets

Sen. Bam Aquino (File photo by INQUIRER.net)

While Sen. Bam Aquino was elated to be the lone opposition member in the “Magic 12” of the latest election survey, he was hopeful that the next surveys would include more from the opposition or independent parties.

“We need more senators who would oppose government measures which could be detrimental for the Filipinos’ welfare,” Aquino said in an interview at the sidelines of the baptism of his daughter, Coco, in Makati City on Sunday.

In the latest survey of pollster Pulse Asia, Aquino, who belongs to the Liberal Party, gained a preference rate of 30.5 percent, which could land him on the ranks of 10 to 19 in the 2019 senatorial race.

‘Dissenting voice’

“I am hoping that in the next surveys, we could see more names coming from the opposition and independent [parties],” Aquino said. “The election is more than a year away, and I think there is a chance that the voters would realize that we need a dissenting voice in the Senate.”

“The people need an opposition that is willing to stand, despite not being currently popular, to fight for the rights of the Filipino and protect democracy,” the senator added.

Aquino said the Liberal Party would join a coalition slate, composed of traditional and nontraditional forces, “to be a vibrant and dynamic opposition.”

“Hopefully, when the opposition slate is complete, we would see more of their names included in the Top 12 in future surveys,” he said. —Dexter Cabalza