Former Bayan Muna lawmaker Neri Colmenares on Friday welcomed the decision of Vice President Leni Robredo to choose another candidate to include in her senatorial slate in the upcoming national polls.
“I respect VP Leni Robredo’s decision regarding her senatorial slate. As I said in my earlier statement, these are decisions that are hers to make,” Colmenares said in a statement.
“My non-inclusion in her slate does not preclude us from continuing engagement and cooperation with her campaign on urgent issues that concern our people. The most urgent of these issues is preventing a Marcos restoration and a Duterte extension amid the continuing pandemic and the worsening crisis in the country,” he added.
On Friday, Robredo announced that labor leader and lawyer Sonny Matula is the 12th candidate in her senatorial slate.
For his part, Colmenares still hopes that Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao can set aside their differences and unite to form a single slate against the Dutertes and Marcoses.
“I reiterate my call on the broad democratic forces to unite against the emerging Marcos-Duterte alliance. Our differences notwithstanding, let us not lose sight of the bigger fight before us,” he said.
“It is my hope that we continue to work together to defeat the forces of tyranny and corruption,” he added.
