Tañada to carry on elders’ fight for farmers, fisherfolk
Former Quezon representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III has vowed to continue his family’s fight for the rights and welfare of the country’s farmers and fisherfolk if elected to the Senate.
Tañada said he is banking on his family’s prominent surname in securing the support of the electorate as his grandfather Lorenzo Tañada and father Wigberto Tañada, who were both senators, have left their respective legacies that benefited the people. “I said, ’Tay (father), I would think
the people who recognize the family name are of the age of 60 and above, if I wait for three more years our supporters might dwindle further,” the 56-year-old lawyer recalled telling his father last year when asked why he is running in May and not in 2022.
Tañada, however, said he is also trying to woo the votes of the young people by going to different universities.
“I go to the schools and try to build youth groups to help me in the campaign,” he said.
Tañada served as representative of the fourth district of Quezon for three terms.
Among the significant laws he was able to pass were repeal of the death penalty, Anti-Torture Act, Anti-enforced Disappearances Act, compensation for martial law victims, international humanitarian law, Cheaper Medicines Act, Renewable Energy Act, People’s Survival Fund and amendments to the PhilHealth Law.
He said he chose green as his campaign color to symbolize his advocacy for agriculture, particularly for the coconut industry.
Quezon province, his bailiwick, is a major producer of coconuts.
Tañada is hoping to improve his survey ratings in the coming weeks as the opposition slate Otso Diretso intensifies its campaign through both mainstream and social media.
The Liberal Party senatorial candidate said he was included in the shortlist of Senate slates in past elections in 2013 and 2016 but somehow found his name removed from the final list.
He said he was invited to run under the United Nationalist Alliance of then vice president Jejomar Binay in 2016 but declined as he remained loyal to LP.
Tañada graduated with a degree in political science from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1985 and earned his bachelor of laws at the Manuel L. Quezon University in 1989.
He is married to Maria Nuñez, with whom he has two children, Miguel and Michaela.
No falling out with Otso Diretso bets
Former interior secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II yesterday dismissed as “plain and simple intrigues” the claims of falling out with his fellow Otso Diretso senatorial candidates.
Although he was seldom seen with them in political rallies, Roxas said the reports were “fake news.”
Roxas, who went on a solo campaign sortie in Negros Occidental, explained he has a different schedule from his fellow candidates, and that he had to attend numerous invitations for him to campaign in their areas.
He said senatorial candidates like him are maximizing efforts to campaign and cover all areas of the country as much as possible.
Roxas also went on a campaign sortie alone in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday.
Roxas failed to join Otso Diretso candidates during their campaign sorties in Negros Occidental last month.
During the campaign period, Roxas said many fake news and intrigues come out.
Reelectionist Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, who was in Negros Occidental also on Tuesday, clarified there was no falling out with Roxas.
Aquino said there are times that they have different schedules.
“It’s just normal. We have nothing against him,” he said.
Aquino also quickly dismissed the reports of falling out with Roxas, saying this was counter-productive.
“There are only a few of us. We’re the underdog in this race. We have no time for that. I’d rather talk about issues,” he said.
Aquino said they are still working on improving their standings in the survey.
Negros Occidental ranked fourth among provinces in the country with highest number of registered voters, at 1.8 million.
Reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe, who was also on a campaign sortie in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, called on voters to put balance into the Senate by voting for a mix of candidates who will really work for the good of the country.
With 12 Senate seats to be filled in the May polls, Poe said she keeps telling people that it would be good if there is a balance by not having everyone coming from one party only.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, leaders of United Negros Alliance and Love Negros, earlier expressed their support for Roxas.