After months of speculation, the progressive Makabayan bloc has announced that it will endorse the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan in the upcoming national elections.
Former Bayan Muna congressman bet Neri Colmenares made the announcement during a virtual event held on Friday, January 28.
At the same time, he also accepted the offer of 1Sambayan opposition coalition to get the eighth slot in its senatorial ticket.
"Isang malaking karangalan sa akin na mapili bilang isa sa mga senatorial candidates ng 1Sambayan. Malugod ko pong tinatanggap ang karangalang ito. Sa inyong suporta, kayang-kaya ko pong maging tapat na boses ng karaniwang tao sa Senado," Colmenares said.
[It's a huge honor to be chosen as one of the senatorial candidates of 1Sambayan. I gladly welcome this development. With your support, I can be an honest voice of the ordinary people in the Senate]
Colmenares joins seven others in 1Sambayan's lineup: Senator Risa Hontiveros, detained Senator Leila de Lima, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Baguio Rep. Teddy Baguilat, lawyer Alex Lacson, and labor leader Sonny Matula.
"Sa puntong ito, nais kong ipahayag sa ngalan ng aking partido, ang Makabayan coalition, ang aming pag-endorso at malakas na suporta kay VP Leni Robredo bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo ng Pilipinas at kay Senator Kiko Pangilinan bilang vice president," Colmenares added.
Colmenares said the Leni-Kiko tandem and Makabayan are united in their positions on issues like the pandemic response, rights of workers, farmers, the poor, and the indigenous peoples, environment, human rights, and the West Philippine Sea.
Colmenares failed to make the cut in Robredo's personal senate slate that she announced last October.
