Aquino seeks stronger opposition in Senate, promises to help in midterm campaign
FORMER president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd will campaign for opposition candidates so that the minority will have a stronger “voice” in the Senate, like his father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Aquino said that he and his colleagues in the Liberal Party are seeking to establish an opposition that would be constructive and maintain a constitutionally vibrant check and balance among the branches, which the majority seems to be lacking.
“I plan to help those who have similar views and advocacies that I have. Mangangampanya tayo para magkaroon tayo ng oposisyong constructive at nagbibigay ng tamang check and balance,” Aquino told reporters at the sidelines of his father’s 35th death anniversary where family, friends and political allies gathered for a mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City on Tuesday.
“At hindi mangyayari yan kung iilan lang ang nasa oposisyon,” he said.
(And that won’t happen if there are only a few in the opposition.)
Former president Benigno Aquino 3rd (right), Vice President Leni Robredo (center) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th attend mass at Sto. Domingo Church on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. PHOTO BY ROGER RAÑADA
Minority Senators Antonio Trillanes 4thand Francis Pangilinan said the minority bloc welcomed the “needed” support of Aquino.
“Napakalaking tulong ng suporta niya, si Pnoy ngayon ay nagiging relevant more than ever at nakikita yung contrast ng kaniyang pamamahala at pamamahala ngayon. so malaking tulong yan sa sa oposisyon,” said Trillanes, whose term expires in 2019.
(His support is huge. Pnoy has become relevant more than ever and we can see the contrast between his governance and that of the incumbent so he is a big help to the opposition.)
Pangilinan said there was dire need for a more independent Senate, especially because of the on-going charter change and federalism drive of the administration.
“The minority does not believe in cha-cha [charter change]at hindi kami naniniwalang pwersahan dapat ito… Umaasa tayo na ang mga kasama sa Senado ay itutulad at itataguyod ang pagiging independent ng Senado bilang institusyon,” said Pangilinan, who is also LP president.
( . . . and we do not believe that this should be forced. We are hopeful that our colleagues in the Senate would establish its independence as an institution.)
Then senator Aquino, the country’s top opposition leader during the Marcos regime, was assassinated on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport on August 21 1983, on his return after a three-year stay in the United States where he underwent heart surgery.
His death became a spark that fueled a bloodless people power revolution in February 1986, with his widow, Corazon, at the helm, ending a 20-year dictatorship and restoring democracy. NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS
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