Erin Tañada to carry on elders’ fight for farmers, fisherfolk

MANILA, Philippines — Former Quezon representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III has vowed to continue his family’s fight for the rights and welfare of the country’s farmers and fisherfolk if elected to the Senate.

Tañada said he is banking on his family’s prominent surname in securing the support of the electorate as his grandfather Lorenzo Tañada and father Wigberto Tañada, who were both senators, have left their respective legacies that benefited the people.

“I said, ’Tay (father), I would think the people who recognize the family name are of the age of 60 and above, if I wait for three more years our supporters might dwindle further,” the 56-year-old lawyer recalled telling his father last year when asked why he is running in May and not in 2022.

Tañada, however, said he is also trying to woo the votes of the young people by going to different universities.

“I go to the schools and try to build youth groups to help me in the campaign,” he said.

Tañada served as representative of the fourth district of Quezon for three terms.

Among the significant laws he was able to pass were repeal of the death penalty, Anti-Torture Act, Anti-enforced Disappearances Act, compensation for martial law victims, international humanitarian law, Cheaper Medicines Act, Renewable Energy Act, People’s Survival Fund and amendments to the PhilHealth Law.

He said he chose green as his campaign color to symbolize his advocacy for agriculture, particularly for the coconut industry.

Quezon province, his bailiwick, is a major producer of coconuts.

Tañada is hoping to improve his survey ratings in the coming weeks as the opposition slate Otso Diretso intensifies its campaign through both mainstream and social media.

The Liberal Party senatorial candidate said he was included in the shortlist of Senate slates in past elections in 2013 and 2016 but somehow found his name removed from the final list.

He said he was invited to run under the United Nationalist Alliance of then vice president Jejomar Binay in 2016 but declined as he remained loyal to LP.

Tañada graduated with a degree in political science from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1985 and earned his bachelor of laws at the Manuel L. Quezon University in 1989.

He is married to Maria Nñnez, with whom he has two children, Miguel and Michaela.