MANILA, Philippines — Unlike other candidates, former Sen. Bam Aquino said he has nothing but his last name and experience.
As he seeks a Senate comeback in 2025, Aquino conceded that he would be running against more popular candidates — those who are either reelectionists, relatives of incumbent senators, or participants in the 2022 senatorial race.
“Ako lang ata ‘yung walang any of those three criteria,” he said in an interview with Inquirer’s INQside Look on Tuesday.
(I think I might be the only one without any of those three criteria.)
“Ang lamang ko lang siguro ko is the fact na naging senador ako at ‘yung last name ko. So malaking bagay sya dito sa pagtakbo na ito,” added Aquino, who is the cousin of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
(I guess my only edge is the fact that I became a senator and my last name. So it’s a big factor in this Senate race.)
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Being an Aquino, however, is not always an advantage, particularly in certain areas or sectors, the former senator acknowledged.
“But all told, the fact that you’re in the top 13, top 14, or even sometimes nagte-twelve ka pa is also because of your last name,” he pointed out.
Although Bam already served as senator from 2013 to 2019, he still lost his reelection bid in 2019.
He now ranks 14th in the latest surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
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Now as an independent candidate, Bam presents himself and fellow senator aspirant, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as “serious candidates” in the midst of two big clashing political groups.
He was apparently referring to the camps of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Dutertes — Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We’re serious candidates. We’ve proven track record. Walang bahid ng corruption (No trace of corruption),” Bam said.
If elected again in the Senate, he vowed to push for measures that would bring down the prices of basic commodities, reform the country’s education, and ensure jobs for many Filipinos.
“Wala ho kaming malalaking partido, wala ho kaming malalaking pera. Ang meron po kami ay kayo po mga volunteers. So please let’s all organize, let’s work together, at ipanalo po natin ang 2025,” Bam said.
(We don’t have big parties, we don’t have large funds. What we have are you, the volunteers. So please, let’s all organize, let’s work together, and let’s win in 2025.)
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NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.
