Despite their continuous political division over the years, opposition parties Liberal Party and PDP-Laban unite in their call towards millions of Filipinos to register to vote. Both parties have expressed their support for Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon: Magparehistro. Bumoto. Para Sa Bukas Natin, a multi-sectoral and non-partisan coalition seeking to mobilise voter registration for the 2022 national elections.
Liberal Party President and Senator Kiko Pangilinan showed their party’s support in a Facebook post, stating that voting is an essential duty to meet the Filipino people’s demands and unify their calls hampered by online discourse and the distance of pandemic isolation. “The inviolability of every Filipino’s right to cast their vote holds true however varied our opinions and principles may be — and as Liberals sworn to protect the rights and freedoms that come with a thriving democracy, the Party welcomes and wholly supports all efforts to re-engage with our people and help them wield the power their ballots have over our collective future,” he said.
Meanwhile, PDP-Laban also shared similar sentiments with Liberal Party in a Facebook post, saying that voting is the “great equalizer” and a way for Filipinos to protect their future. “Free and democratic elections are not only about casting a vote in normal conditions but it [is] also about ensuring the constitutional right of every citizen to participate in a process that determines who will represent them, their family and their neighbors in every level of government. Every election is also an opportunity to change the course of our country’s history. Each and every vote is the voice of a citizen. However, we cannot exercise this right to vote and express our voice if we do not register ourselves,” the party said in the post.
PDP-Laban and Liberal Party have been contending forces in Philippine politics for a long time. However, both parties have also recognized the significance of voting to build a brighter, more sustainable future for the country and uphold a free and fair democracy. Despite their stark differences in politics, the opposing parties chose to bridge the gap and back Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon’s #RegiToVote campaign.
Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon: Magparehistro. Bumoto. Para Sa Bukas Natin aims to reach an additional 7 million registrants before the deadline of September 30, 2021, and inactive voters to reactivate their voting status in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). More information on the coalition can be found through https://koalisyon.ph.
