MANILA, Philippines 鈥� They may have political differences but it never became a 鈥渟tumbling block鈥� for seven senators, who are seeking another term in May.
On Wednesday, six of seven senators seeking reelection in May 2019 gathered together in a 鈥渦nity鈥� rally organized by Senator Grace Poe.
Aside from Poe, other re-electionist senators are Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Koko Pimentel, and Bam Aquino. All but Aquino attended the event held in Tondo, Manila.
Binay said the rally only proves that 鈥渦nity is never equated to the heterogeneity of the Senate.鈥�
While party affiliations are a 鈥減olitical reality,鈥� she said, it has never become a hindrance for them to push for a common legislative agenda.
鈥淪a anim na taon kaming magkakasama sa Senado, mas naging matibay ang aming pondasyon pagdating sa pagsulong ng mga batas na kailangang ng kolektibong aksyon,鈥� she said in a statement.
Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/黑料社
鈥淥ur political differences never became a stumbling block, in fact, our common denominator is our commitment to be the voice of ordinary Filipinos in the Senate,鈥� Binay added.
She said sharing the stage with fellow re-electionist senators was a 鈥渢estament of unity in diversity in the Senate.鈥�
鈥淚to yung magandang ipinapakita ng grupo naming mga re-electionist na ang Senado ay hindi isang institusyon na nagkakatawan sa pampolitikal na interes ng bawat miyembro nito. Sa katunayan, ang bawat sektoral na isyu ay binibigyan namin ng boses para sa pambansang interes,鈥� Binay noted.
Another notable with their group, she said, is their rapport despite their differences in opinion.
鈥淔rom an institutional perspective, we find an acceptable balance between unity and diversity, instead of dwelling on irreconcilable principles,鈥� added Binay.
Poe is an independent candidate, Binay is running under the United Nationalist Alliance, Villar belongs to Nacionalista Party, Ejercito is with Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition, Angara and Pimentel are presidents of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and PDP-Laban, respectively, while Aquino is part of opposition Liberal Party. /je