Hopefully second time’s the charm — Chel Diokno announced Wednesday, September 15, that he will run for a seat at the Senate as an independent candidate in the 2022 elections.
The human rights lawyer and educator made the official announcement on his Facebook and Twitter pages, where he also said that he has not affiliated with any political party.
Social media’s favorite “Woke Lolo” first declared his intentions to run again in June this year, three years after his first attempt in the 2018 Senate race.
“Yes, I have decided that I will be running for the senate… Sa ngayon po ako ay isang independent. I have not joined or allied or affiliated with any particular political party”, his statement read, echoing his words from an interview on the TV5’s The Chiefs with Ed Lingao.
Diokno also tweeted: “Napakaraming bagay ang hindi patas dito sa atin—sa batas, sa ekonomiya, sa mga patakaran sa COVID. Gawin nating mas makatarungan ang buhay ng mga Pilipino.” (There are several things that are unequal in our country — in law, in the economy, in the policies around COVID. Let us make Filipinos’ lives more fair and just.)
Yes, tatakbo ulit ako sa Senado. Napakaraming bagay ang hindi patas dito sa atin—sa batas, sa ekonomiya, sa mga patakaran sa COVID. Gawin nating mas makatarungan ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. https://t.co/TblCMrM7Ao
— Chel Diokno (@ChelDiokno) September 15, 2021
Diokno also said that he supported the coalition 1Sambayan’s initiative to come up with a unity slate, and hopes that it will happen because “sa tingin ko, lalaki ang tiyansa ng opposition ‘pag magsama-sama lahat and we can all unite behind a common slate.” (In my opinion, the opposition’s chances will increase if we all band together and we can all unite behind a common slate.)
1Sambayan is a coalition made up of broad democratic forces across the political spectrum whose goal is to endorse a slate of opposition bets for 2022. Some of its conveners include retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and lawyer Neri Colmenares, among others.
Now, will someone raise their hand as volunteer?
