ACT Teachers believes a unified opposition may ‘inevitably’ happen

Metro Manila, Philippines — A unified opposition may “inevitably” happen, says Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list first nominee Antonio Tinio.

Tinio and his co-nominees filed the certificate of nomination and acceptance for ACT Teachers Party-list before the Commission on Elections offsite office at the Manila Hotel on Sunday, Oct. 6. Incumbent Rep. France Castro accompanied them.

Asked if they are open to uniting with other opposition members, Tinio agreed as long as they are against the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Duterte family.

“I think inevitably mangyayari ‘yun. Lahat ng mga mananalo ng mga parties and individuals sa Kongreso na may tindig na opposition sa Marcos administration at ganu’n din sa grupo ng mga Duterte who are still in power or part of the ruling clique, kailangan talaga inevitably magsasama-sama,” Tinio said.

[Translation: I think that will inevitably happen. Parties and individuals who will win in Congress who stand against the Marcos administration and as well as the Duterte group who are still in power or part of the ruling clique, they need to join forces.]

“Bukas tayo makipagtulungan sa lahat basta malinaw ang tindig kontra sa Marcos at naniningil ng accountability sa mga Duterte, at nagsusulong sa interes ng taumbayan,” he added.

[Translation: We are open to help one another as long as it is clear that they are against Marcos and they ask for accountability from the Dutertes, and they push for the public’s interest.]

Other issues, Tinio said, that should be advocated by the possible opposition include bringing prices of commodities down, providing a family living wage, and upholding human rights.

Should the party-list win a House seat again, they pledge to lobby for raising the starting salary of teachers to P50,000.

Meanwhile, Castro stressed the importance of having a teacher representative at the Senate as some measures were left unnoticed.