Apart from Rep. France Castro of party-list ACT Teachers, the Makabayan bloc on Thursday said it is in the process of selecting 11 other senatorial bets for the 2025 midterm elections.
At a Quezon City news conference, former Rep. Satur Ocampo of party-list Bayan Muna confirmed the senatorial bid of Castro under the Oposisyon ng Bayan political party.
“At a time when the people need a real opposition to present a real alternative to change, we are ready to face the people,” Ocampo said.
The group in a statement said they would field a full slate of progressive candidates sharing the principles rooted in the desire to establish comprehensive programs that are responsive to the call for societal progress, respect for rights, and full national sovereignty.
“We have started the process of forming the slate and it can be said that many are being considered to run,” the statement said.
The opposition bloc has never fielded a full slate of 12 senatorial candidates in the past elections.
Neri Colmenares, another Bayan Muna lawmaker who previously lost in the senatorial race, said they would prioritize candidates within their group.
When asked if the Makabayan Bloc would consider ex-senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno in their slate, he said they are willing to coalesce with other individual candidates or parties who are one in their platform.
Former Rep. Liza Maza of party-list Gabriela said the Makabayan bloc candidates must not belong to any political clan and dynasty, and should be corruption-free.
“We can proudly say that they come from the sectors of the workers, farmers, women, youth, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and the other sectors that have been deprived of their voice in Congress for the longest time,” Maza said.
