MAKABAYAN SAYS TALKS WITH OTHER OPPOSITION GROUPS 'ONGOING'

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is currently talking with other opposition groups to forge a genuine opposition ticket for the 2025 midterm elections, a member said Thursday.

"The talks with other opposition groups are ongoing, and we are studying it carefully," said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro in a press briefing.

Castro, who has expressed her intention to run for senator next year, said they are targeting 12 senatorial candidates.

"We want representation for marginalized sector, farmers, fisherfolk, workers, women, and so we are open to that," she said, referring to forging alliances with other parties.

"Ang target talaga namin ay mabuo ang 12. Okay kami na may sumali sa amin o kung kami rin ay sumali [sa iba]," she added.

(Our target is to complete the 12. We're okay with others joining us or us joining the others.)

Castro said they would forge alliances "based on principle" and not just for the sake of it.

"Iyong magiging alyado namin will have the same principle as us. Hindi iyong makikipag-alyado ka lang kasi gusto mo manalo sa eleksyon. It will be based on principle," the House leader said.

(Our allies should have the same principle as us. We're not going to forge alliances just for the sake of winning the elections.)

Castro, who is on her last term as House member, earlier announced her 2025 Senate bid, saying this is in response to the call of the past and present teachers for a voice for the education sector in the Senate. 

House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list lawmaker Arlene Brosas backed Castro's call for a genuine opposition ticket instead of a Senate ticket out of convenience. 

"Tunay na oposisyon ang gusto ng Makabayan, at open kami makipagusap sa mga tunay na oposisyon, 'yung alam namin na talagang titindig para sa ating mga mamamayan, hindi para panatilihin 'yung status quo na meron tayo na hindi nakakapagsalita iyong ordinaryong Pilipino," she said.

(Makabayan wants a genuine opposition, and we are open to talk with the real opposition, the one we know would stand for our countrymen instead of maintaining the status quo where the ordinary Filipino has no voice.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News 

This article Makabayan says talks with other opposition groups 'ongoing' was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-07-04T09:07:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd