Opposition puts up ‘The Resistance’ vs ‘The Force’

The political opposition has put up “The Resistance” or its senatorial slate for the 2019 elections to counter “The Force” – composed of re-electionist senators from the majority bloc – and the lineup that will be fielded by the Duterte administration, Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said yesterday.

Aquino made the announcement as Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, president of PDP-Laban, said the party will start finalizing its list of senatorial candidates after the Holy Week.

“In 2019, we don’t only need The Force, we need The Resistance – a genuine opposition slate. The people need to unite and help each other fight the administration’s policies that harm the people. You will find me on that slate,” Aquino said.

“You need a slate that’s independent from PDP-Laban, that’s willing to oppose, willing to stand up even if it’s unpopular, and even when it’s dangerous.

We need the opposition for the sake of our democracy,” he said.

Aquino, a member of the minority bloc and seeking re-election under the Liberal Party, however did not give other names of personalities who may form part of The Resistance senatorial slate.

The Force is composed of Sens. Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, and Joseph Victor Ejercito who are either independent or belong to other political parties. But they all belong to the majority bloc in the Senate.

Pimentel, who is also seeking re-election, and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, secretary-general of PDPLaban, earlier said senatorial aspirants who wish to join the administration lineup must pledge support to federalism.

Pimentel, however, softened his stance after some re-electionist senators protested the imposition.

He said he did not want contrasting messages from administration senatorial candidates on federalism during the campaign even as he vowed to push for the inclusion of The Force in the administration lineup.

Ejercito said being “open” to federalism should suffice for inclusion in the administration senatorial slate.

He said his re-electionist colleagues have been working hard to champion the administration’s agenda on infrastructure, education, illegal drugs and corruption.

“Our hard work is motivated by public interest, not partisan politics,” Ejercito said.