Romulo Macalintal mulling Senate post in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal yesterday expressed his intention to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

Macalintal is the lead counsel of Vice President Leni Robredo in the electoral protest filed against her by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“I’m considering it. And if given the chance, I will try entering politics. Some people told me, I had been assisting politicians winning the elections, perhaps I could try if I could apply it to myself,” he told reporters.

Macalintal was included in the list of possible senatorial candidates of the opposition coalition, which is headed by Robredo.

“I’m happy that my name is included in the list of possible nominees in the coalition of opposition parties,” he said.

Macalintal obtained a voter preference of 1.3 percent and placed 45th to 63rd in the Sept. 1-7 Pulse Asia survey.

“Until now I don’t have a final decision yet. But in the event that I decide to run and file my certificate of candidacy, all I ask of you is: save your last vote for me,” he said.

The lawyer, however, said he has no plan of abandoning Robredo’s case.

“Because I need to be with the Vice President always, not only in her case, but during the campaign period – if she will campaign for me,” Macalintal said.

On Tuesday, the Liberal Party announced its initial list of candidates for next year’s senatorial polls. They are reelectionist Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and former Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III.