Leni Robredo on Friday endorsed labor leader Sonny Matula for senator, completing her diverse 12-member ticket that is made up of allies, incumbents and returning lawmakers.
It will be the second senatorial campaign for Matula, a lawyer who is the president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and chairperson of the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition. In 2019, he placed 50th among senatorial candidates.
"Pinakinggan natin ang lahat ng mga agam-agam. Pinag-usapan ang kakayahan at kasaysayan ng bawat isa sa mga lumapit upang ialok ang sarili bilang kahanay. Kinailangang suriin ang pagkabuo ng loob nilang makiisa sa ating misyon," Robredo said.
"Sinabi ko na rin: Gusto ko, ang huling Senador natin, progresibo at kasapi rin ng batayang sektor katulad ng ibang mga kahanay natin. Ikinagagalak ko ngayong ihayag: Isinusulong ko para sa Senador si Attorney Sonny Matula ng Labor Party Philippines," she added.
Robredo said Matula's track record speaks for how he could fight for the rights of Filipino worker.
"Humarap siya sa mga malalaking korporasyon, na ang tanging sandata ay paninindigan at husay sa abogasya. Isinusulong niya ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa—isang adbokasiya na matagal na rin nating ipinaglalaban bago pa man ako pumasok sa pulitika," Robredo, who identifies as a labor advocate, said.
Robredo made the announcement a week after releasing her initial slate, which many expected to include Makabayan bloc's Neri Colmenares. She earlier said she was considering four to five names for the last spot, preferably someone from the marginalized sector.
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