Philippines: LP to form ‘resistance’ coalition in 2019 polls

• The Liberal Party is eyeing to form a coalition that will be the “genuine opposition” in the 2019 elections.
• LP President Sen. Francis Pangilinan stressed the need for a strong opposition that will resist the “slide to authoritarianism and anti-democratic rule.”
• “We hope to help build together the broadest coalition of groups and individuals united behind defending our freedoms and our civil and political rights,” Pangilinan said in a statement released on 27 Mar 18.
• The opposition party is hoping to form a “resistance” coalition that will ensure that the country’s economic development will not be side-lined by corruption and human rights violations.
• Pangilinan, however, acknowledged that the LP will need the help of other groups in forming an opposition coalition.
• Sen. Bam Aquino earlier said that he is not interested to join PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate as he will join a genuine opposition slate for the 2019 midterm elections.
• Aquino will be the only re-electionist senator who will not be joining the ruling political party’s senatorial slate as Senate President Koko Pimentel had already expressed his support for Sens. Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar.
• Ejercito had earlier referred to him and the four other re-electionist senators who will be joining PDP-Laban as “The Force.”
• He added that the LP will join a coalition slate which will be composed of people willing to speak out against the Duterte administration’s policies.

External Link : https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/03/27/1800815/lp-form-resistance-coalition-2019-polls