Liberal Party, Akbayan trumpet ‘true opposition’ for 2025 midterm elections

August 1, 2024 , 10:45 PM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

(August 1, 2024) – With only two months remaining before the filing of certificate of candidacies for the 2025 midterm elections, Akbayan on Thursday announced its renewed alliance with the Liberal Party (LP) to form a “true opposition.”

Both parties stressed the importance of early preparations to avoid the shortcomings of the 2022 elections, where the opposition was hugely decimated.

“One party alone cannot hope to defeat misgovernance or defeat pervasive corruption or stand against aggression,” said former senator Kiko Pangilinan, who’s also the chairperson of LP.

The opposition was also blanked in the 2019 midterm elections, with none of its eight candidates earning a senatorial seat.

For next year, the coalition plans to field a senatorial lineup led by Pangilinan, former senator Bam Aquino, and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno. Among them, only Aquino has confirmed his intention to run for senator.

“Gusto natin panatilihing solid na kumikilos at palawakin pa ‘yung base na nag-mobilize noon (2022 elections). Nagtataya kaming muli na maging bahagi ng tuluy-tuloy na paghahanda para sa midterm elections sa susunod na taon at sa general elections sa 2028,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who’s also the chairperson of Akbayan.

Hontiveros was the only opposition bet who won a senatorial seat in the 2022 elections.

Following the exit of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte-Carpio from the Cabinet of Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr., their allies positioned the Dutertes as the new opposition. Duterte-Carpio, however, rejected this.

Akbayan also slammed the Dutertes as a “fake opposition.”

“Akbayan, together with other democratic and reform forces, stands as the true opposition. We are not swayed by the Dutertes’ false assertions. Our commitment to genuine democratic principles sets us apart as the legitimate voice of resistance and democracy,” said Akbayan president Rafaela David.

The opposition was demonized by former president Rodrigo Duterte and his cohorts, with many of their rabid supporters propagating the idea.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said the role of former vice president Leni Robredo in the opposition remains unclear, although LP has expressed its full support for her mayoral run in Naga in the 2025 midterm elections.

Aside from the senatorial race, LP and Akbayan also revealed plans to participate in the party-list polls and present over a hundred local candidates nationwide.

(PM)

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