MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Makabayan Coalition aims to field a聽complete slate of 12 senatorial candidates in the 2025 elections.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas bared this in a press briefing on Thursday, adding that the coalition wants to tap representatives from the marginalized sectors.
Castro announced her intention to run for senator in 2025 last June 26.
READ: ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Castro to run for senator in 2025聽
鈥淲e will field a slate 鈥� the number of candidates will increase, it鈥檚 not only me. We will field 鈥� as Cong. Arlene said earlier 鈥� representatives of each sector, including the marginalized sector, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous people, urban poor, women, and professionals,鈥� she said in Filipino.
鈥淲ell we鈥檙e open to more candidates, our target is to complete a 12-man slate, but we鈥檙e open to other candidates joining us or us endorsing, such things are being talked about at the level of the Makabayan Coalition,鈥� she added.
Castro also bared that the Makabayan Coalition has been talking with like-minded parties, including Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman鈥檚 Liberal Party for a possible alliance.
鈥淎s to talks with other opposition groups, that鈥檚 currently ongoing, and we are intently studying that. Of course, our allies should have the same principles as us, we do not forge alliances just because we want to win an election,鈥� she said.
鈥淪o our alliances with other sectors and parties are on the basis of principle 鈥� We are talking to everyone; of course, Liberal Party is part of that because we have a similar stand on several issues,鈥� she added.
Brosas said the Makabayan also aims to provide the people with candidates who do not belong to the camp of either President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Vice President Sara Duterte.
鈥淲e are looking forward to a true opposition, that鈥檚 what we lack right now. Our choices are only Marcos or Duterte 鈥� that鈥檚 not what the Makabayan wants, we are looking for a true opposition.聽 That鈥檚 why we are open to talking with true opposition groups, those that we know will stand for our people, and for changing the society,鈥� she said.
鈥淪o this 2025 elections is really crucial for the Makabayan, and we are expecting that the number of candidates will increase since we need voices from peasant groups, the oppressed sector, those from the worker鈥檚 groups,鈥� she added.
Several political groups have started forging partnerships for the 2025 elections, with Marcos鈥� Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) signing alliance agreements with House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez鈥� Lakas-CMD and the Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition.
READ: PFP, Lakas-CMD alliance is 鈥榯he most powerful political force鈥� 鈥� Romualdez聽
Last Tuesday, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the Nacionalista Party, which he belongs to, will also enter into an alliance with the PFP.
READ: Imee Marcos would likely be part of admin鈥檚 2025 senatorial slate 鈥� Barbers聽
Last June 25, Vice President Duterte said her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and her two brothers, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, will all run for senator in 2025.
READ: VP Duterte: My father, brothers will run for senator in 2025聽
The Dutertes have been critical of Marcos over several issues, like the removal of confidential funds requested by the Vice President, President Marcos鈥� alliance with the United States, and moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Vice President Duterte resigned as secretary of the Department of Education last June 19.