Party-list groups throw support to Alyansa slate upon Romualdez request
Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates. File photo.
MANILA, Philippines — The Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI) has thrown its support to the senatorial candidates, assuring the administration that they support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s legislative agenda.
PCFI during a meeting on Wednesday made this assurance upon the request of House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who has been rallying support for the Alyansa.
According to PCFI vice president and TGP party-list Rep. Jose Teves Jr. and PCFI secretary general and Barangay Health Workers party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, they will ensure that the Senate of the 20th Congress “will be able to meaningfully collaborate” with the Marcos administration.
“We are backing candidates who share the same legislative priorities, the same aspirations for a more progressive, more stable and more inclusive Philippines,” Teves said. “These are not unfamiliar names to us. They are tried and tested public servants who know how to get the job done, especially in the Senate where deliberation and policy depth are critical.”
`Competence in government’
“These are individuals with long records of public service, competence in governance and commitment to reform under the Bagong Pilipinas campaign of the President,” Co added.
At the luncheon — which came a day after the Lakas-CMD meeting in Malacañang — Romualdez also asked PCFI to vote and support Alyansa all the way.
“So, we are appealing you na straight Alyansa na lang tayo. If we can go straight Alyansa, we will demonstrate the political clout [of the Party-list lawmakers],” Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, said. “I’m here to reiterate, uulitin ko na lang ‘yung lambing natin sa partylist, to support the [Alyansa] senators.”
“Conservatively speaking, when the Party-list acts together or in unison, we are talking of a conservative 15 million votes that you can command easily,” he added.
PCFI chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said their group follows Lakas-CMD’s suit and backs Alyansa.
“Like the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) where the good Speaker is the party president, the PCFI is also stand united in declaring our full and unwavering support for the 11 senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.,” Co noted.
`Strong leadership’
“Strong leadership in the Senate complements strong leadership in Malacañang […] if we want reforms to be felt, we need partners in the upper chamber who will push with us, not pull us back,” he added.
On Tuesday, Romualdez appealed to his party-mates at the Lakas-CMD to continue — and intensify — their support for Alyansa, noting that there should be no ifs and buts.
READ: Romualdez appeals to Lakas-CMD: Support Alyansa, no ifs and buts
According to the Speaker, Alyansa’s candidates were picked by President Marcos for a reason, as they will be the administration’s partners in its goal of attaining peace, progress, and prosperity for the country.
Lakas-CMD is part of the five-party team that forms the Alyansa, including Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the National Unity Party (NUP), and the Nacionalista Party (NP).
Alyansa is fielding an 11-person slate for the 2025 midterm elections:
- Former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos (PFP)
- Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (NPC)
- Senator Pia Cayetano (NP)
- Senator Lito Lapid (NPC)
- Former Senator Ping Lacson (Independent)
- Former Senator Manny Pacquiao (Independent)
- Senator Bong Revilla (Lakas-CMD)
- Former Senate President Tito Sotto (NPC)
- Senator Francis Tolentino (PFP)
- House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo (Lakas-CMD)
- House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar (NP)
While different surveys have indicated that Alyansa members dominate surveys, there have been concerns about the group’s composition and ranking. Earlier, Tulfo admitted that they expected backlash and lower survey rankings after former president Rodrigo Duterte was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last March.
During the latter part of 2024, Alyansa was dominating the senatorial race, with 10 of the then 12-person slate being included in the Magic 12. Tulfo was also the consistent topnotcher in different surveys.
After Duterte’s arrest, the ranking of the ex-president’s allies, Senator Bong Go and Senator Ronald dela Rosa surged.
Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, also left Alyansa due to the administration’s allegedly harsh treatment of former president Duterte.
READ: SWS: Go, 9 Alyansa Senate bets top poll
Then after the Holy Week, Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, endorsed Villar’s candidacy. Alyansa has maintained that the five-party alliance is still intact, with campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco saying that they welcome endorsements as it is a sign that people embrace the administration’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.
