MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan named their 11 senatorial candidates on Friday, October 15 including former Vice President Jejomar Binay and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
VP Leni has yet to choose the 12th candidate on her Senate slate for 2022, who would “represent the marginalized sector.” Bayan Muna chairperson and former Rep. Neri Colmenares, and labor leader Sonny Matula are being considered in the selection process.
“Kung napapansin nyo yung number 12 wala pa. Yung number 12 gusto sana namin, who will best represent the marginalized sectors,” VP said.
“We have a number of nominees already pero gusto sana namin hindi ito desisyon ko lang… Gusto natin bigyan ng mas maraming boses yung mas maraming tao at niru-run by natin ito sa groups na nakikiisa sa atin,” she added.
VP Leni announced in a press conference that the following candidates are on their senatorial slates including Former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Senator Richard Gordon, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Former senator Francis Escudero, Senator Joel Villanueva, Author and poet Alex Lacson.
Incumbent Senators Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Joel Villanueva, as well as former senator and incumbent Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero, are among the guest candidates, according to Robredo, who is running as an independent despite being adopted by Liberal Party.
As a result, the Robredo-Pangilinan slate currently has 11 senate candidates. The following was already revealed as part of the senatorial slate including,
- Former Senator Sonny Trillanes
- Senator Risa Hontiveros
- Senator Leila De Lima
- Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno
- Former congressman Teddy Baguilat.
Robredo stated that the slate’s 12th member would be announced shortly since they are currently searching for the perfect candidate from the marginalized sector.
The Senate candidates, according to Robredo were united in principle, citing the candidates’ qualities.
In addition, Robredo added that members of the Senate slate were nominated by various groups and had to go through a process.
“This is just consistent with what we have been pushing for a very long time already. Even during the time that I wasn’t a candidate yet and I wasn’t planning to run yet for the presidency—to unify as many people as possible, coming from diverse backgrounds,” Robredo said.
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