2 Parties Reject LP’s Resistance Coalition Invitation in 2019 Elections Despite Huge Money Offer

Two major political parties have already rejected the offer of the Liberal Party (LP) for a resistance coalition in the coming 2019 midterm elections. This comes a day after LP President, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that a genuine opposition is needed to make sure that the alleged evil plans of President Rodrigo Duterte will not succeed.

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“Resistance is our movement. We must vigorously resist the slide to authoritarianism and anti-democratic rule. We hope to help build together the broadest coalition of groups and individuals united behind defending our freedoms and our civil and political rights.” Sen. Pangilinan said in a statement in an LP event last Tuesday.

“Democracy demands dissent. We need a strong opposition to ensure that our democracy remains vibrant. We hope this coalition is one in ensuring our economic development is not sidelined by corruption and human rights violations.” He added, echoing the earlier statement of Senator Bam Aquino, who is set to run for reelection in 2019.

"In 2019, hindi lang 'The Force' kailangan, we need 'The Resistance' – a genuine opposition slate. Kailangan ng mga taong magsasama-sama. You will find me on that slate," Sen. Aquino said, noting that a coalition is necessary to have a stronger voice that will oppose government policies which he claims are not helpful to the Filipino people.

However, Senator Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said that even if PDP-Laban will not allow her to join the administration coalition in 2019, she will never join the LP coalition. She is the daughter of former vice president Jejomar Binay, who ran for president in 2016 but only got 5.4 million votes or 12.7 percent of all the votes.

“Matapos nilang siraan ang Tatay ko nung nakaraan eleksyon, ngayon lalapit sila sa sa amin para sa isang coalition. No way! Ano sila sinuswerte?! (After they destroyed my father’s reputation during the last elections, now they’re inviting us for a coalition. No way! Are they feeling lucky?!)” Sen. Binay told reporters on Wednesday, March 28.



Meanwhile, an UNA insider said that an LP lobbyist offered the party an amount that no one can resist, in exchange for an agreement of the “Resistance Coalition.” According to the insider who refused to reveal his identity, LP offered the same huge amount of money to another major political party (which he did not name), but they also rejected it.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao